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Genetics and Molecular Biology Practice Tests

These Grade 12 Science practice tests develop Genetics and Molecular Biology skills through questions on DNA, RNA, gene expression, inheritance, biotechnology, disease, and molecular experiments.

Skills covered

  • Analyzing nucleotide structure, DNA replication, transcription, RNA processing, translation, mutations, and operons
  • Applying Mendelian inheritance, non-Mendelian patterns, linkage, recombination, population genetics, genetic drift, founder effects, and gene flow
  • Explaining enhancers, repressors, epigenetics, microRNA, alternative splicing, PCR, electrophoresis, sequencing, and CRISPR targeting
  • Connecting oncogenes, tumor suppressors, apoptosis, telomeres, stem cells, gene therapy, viral vectors, vaccines, and tumor heterogeneity
  • Evaluating controls, expression assays, cDNA, pedigrees, protein detection, microarrays, null hypotheses, coverage, replication, and conclusions

How to use these practice tests

Trace the flow from sequence to expression to phenotype. For laboratory questions, identify the control, variable, measurement, and limitation before selecting a conclusion.

For more Grade 12 Science practice, return to the Grade 12 Science category.

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Grade 12 Genetics and Molecular Biology Practice Tests

Practice Grade 12 Science questions about DNA, RNA, gene expression, inheritance, population genetics, biotechnology, cancer biology, and molecular experiments.

Choose the best answer. Connect molecular mechanisms to inheritance or phenotype, and interpret experimental evidence within its limits.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

What is an appropriate control for testing whether a regulatory molecule changes gene expression?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A comparable sample without the regulatory molecule.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: A control without the treatment provides a baseline for comparing expression changes.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is A comparable sample without the regulatory molecule.

A control without the treatment provides a baseline for comparing expression changes.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

What does quantitative PCR measure most directly?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is The accumulation of amplified target DNA or cDNA during the reaction.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Fluorescence or another signal tracks amplification and can be related to the starting amount of target nucleic acid.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is The accumulation of amplified target DNA or cDNA during the reaction.

Fluorescence or another signal tracks amplification and can be related to the starting amount of target nucleic acid.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

Why is cDNA often made from messenger RNA before studying gene expression?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is It converts unstable RNA information into a DNA form that can be amplified or analyzed.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Reverse transcription creates complementary DNA representing transcripts present in the sample.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is It converts unstable RNA information into a DNA form that can be amplified or analyzed.

Reverse transcription creates complementary DNA representing transcripts present in the sample.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

A pedigree shows unaffected parents having an affected child, with males and females affected at similar rates. Which inheritance pattern is most consistent?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Autosomal recessive.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Unaffected carrier parents can have an affected child in an autosomal recessive pattern, and both sexes can be affected.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is Autosomal recessive.

Unaffected carrier parents can have an affected child in an autosomal recessive pattern, and both sexes can be affected.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

What does a Western blot detect?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A specific protein using separation and antibody-based detection.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Western blotting separates proteins and uses antibodies to detect a target protein or modification.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is A specific protein using separation and antibody-based detection.

Western blotting separates proteins and uses antibodies to detect a target protein or modification.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

What can a DNA microarray compare?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Relative expression or presence of many genes across samples using probes.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Microarrays use many probes to measure hybridization patterns across genes or variants.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is Relative expression or presence of many genes across samples using probes.

Microarrays use many probes to measure hybridization patterns across genes or variants.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

What is a null hypothesis in a gene-expression experiment?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is A statement that the tested treatment has no effect on the measured expression.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Statistical testing compares observed results with a model in which the treatment causes no difference.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is A statement that the tested treatment has no effect on the measured expression.

Statistical testing compares observed results with a model in which the treatment causes no difference.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Why is sequencing coverage useful?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Multiple reads of a region can improve confidence in the inferred nucleotide sequence.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Repeated independent reads help distinguish true variants from sequencing errors or ambiguous bases.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is Multiple reads of a region can improve confidence in the inferred nucleotide sequence.

Repeated independent reads help distinguish true variants from sequencing errors or ambiguous bases.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Why are biological replicates important?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is They show whether a finding is reproducible across independent samples or organisms.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Biological replication tests whether a result generalizes beyond one preparation or individual.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is They show whether a finding is reproducible across independent samples or organisms.

Biological replication tests whether a result generalizes beyond one preparation or individual.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

What is the strongest conclusion when a gene-editing treatment lowers a disease marker in cultured cells?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is The treatment is promising in that cell model but requires further testing before broader claims.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: The conclusion matches the limited model and avoids extending cell-culture evidence to whole organisms or patients.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is The treatment is promising in that cell model but requires further testing before broader claims.

The conclusion matches the limited model and avoids extending cell-culture evidence to whole organisms or patients.

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