1. What is the basic structure of DNA? Double helix
2. Who discovered the structure of DNA? Watson and Crick
3. What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA? Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine
4. How do the bases pair up? A with T, C with G
5. What holds the two strands of DNA together? Hydrogen bonds
6. What is the sugar in DNA? Deoxyribose
7. What is the backbone of DNA made of? Sugar and phosphate
8. What is the function of DNA? Stores genetic information
9. What is a gene? A segment of DNA that codes for a protein
10. What is replication? The process of copying DNA
11. When does replication occur? Before cell division
12. What enzyme unwinds the DNA? Helicase
13. What enzyme adds new nucleotides? DNA polymerase
14. What is the result of replication? Two identical DNA molecules
15. What is a mutation? A change in the DNA sequence
16. What can cause mutations? Errors in replication, radiation, chemicals
17. What is transcription? Making mRNA from DNA
18. Where does transcription occur? Nucleus
19. What is translation? Making protein from mRNA
20. Where does translation occur? Ribosome
21. What is a codon? Three nucleotides that code for an amino acid
22. What is the start codon? AUG
23. What are the stop codons? UAA, UAG, UGA
24. What is the central dogma? DNA → RNA → Protein
25. What is a chromosome? A structure made of DNA and proteins
26. How many chromosomes do humans have? 46
27. What are homologous chromosomes? Chromosomes that are similar in size and gene content
28. What is a karyotype? A picture of all the chromosomes in a cell
29. What is meiosis? Cell division that produces gametes
30. How many daughter cells are produced in meiosis? 4
31. What is the purpose of meiosis? To produce haploid cells for sexual reproduction
32. What is crossing over? Exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes
33. What is independent assortment? Random alignment of chromosomes during meiosis
34. What is a gamete? A sex cell (sperm or egg)
35. What is fertilization? The fusion of sperm and egg
36. What is a zygote? A fertilized egg
37. What is a phenotype? The physical expression of a trait
38. What is a genotype? The genetic makeup of an organism
39. What is an allele? A variant form of a gene
40. What is homozygous? Having two identical alleles for a gene
41. What is heterozygous? Having two different alleles for a gene
42. What is dominant? An allele that is expressed when present
43. What is recessive? An allele that is only expressed if no dominant allele is present
44. What is a Punnett square? A diagram used to predict offspring genotypes
45. What is a monohybrid cross? A cross between two individuals that differ in one trait
46. What is a dihybrid cross? A cross between two individuals that differ in two traits
47. What is incomplete dominance? A blending of traits in heterozygotes
48. What is codominance? Both alleles are expressed in heterozygotes
49. What is multiple alleles? More than two alleles for a gene in a population
50. What is polygenic inheritance? A trait controlled by multiple genes
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of dna double helix coloring worksheet answers.
