CUET Booster Biology Unit 5 Test (M2)
π Answers are locked once submitted β results and explanations appear at the end.
QUESTION 1 OF 20
Which of the following is NOT true regarding the Griffith experiment findings?
QUESTION 2 OF 20
Match the bacterial injection (Column I) with its specific effect on mice (Column II) in Griffith\'s experiment:
| Column I | Column II |
|---|---|
| 1. Live S strain | R. Dies |
| 2. Live R strain | P. Survives |
| 3. Heat-killed S strain | Q. Survives |
| 4. Heat-killed S strain + Live R strain | S. Transformation / Dies |
QUESTION 3 OF 20
Prior to the biochemical characterization by Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty (1933-44), what was the prevailing scientific belief regarding the biochemical nature of the genetic material?
QUESTION 4 OF 20
Arrange the experimental deduction steps by Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty in the correct logical order:
I. Discover that DNA alone from S bacteria caused R bacteria to transform.
II. Purify biochemicals (proteins, DNA, RN
QUESTION 5 OF 20
Consider the following statements about DNase in the Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty experiment:
I. DNase digests DNA.
II. Digestion with DNase inhibited transformation.
III. Digestion with DNase accelerated the transformation of R cells to S cells. Which of the statements are correct?
QUESTION 6 OF 20
Why did Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty\'s conclusion that DNA is the hereditary material face skepticism?
QUESTION 7 OF 20
QUESTION 8 OF 20
QUESTION 9 OF 20
Which of the following was NOT an outcome of the centrifugation step in the Hershey-Chase experiment?
QUESTION 10 OF 20
In the Hershey-Chase experiment, the presence of radioactive P-32 exclusively inside the infected bacterial cells proved that:
QUESTION 11 OF 20
Which of the following molecules fundamentally fails to fulfill the first requirement of a genetic material (the ability to generate a replica)?
QUESTION 12 OF 20
Match the structural feature (Column I) to its specific contribution to nucleic acid stability (Column II):
| Column I | Column II |
|---|---|
| 1. 2β²-OH group in RNA | P. Confers additional stability compared to uracil |
| 2. Thymine in DNA | Q. Makes the molecule labile and easily degradable |
| 3. Hydrogen bonding between strands | R. Allows strands separated by heat to come back together under appropriate conditions |
| 4. Complementarity of strands | S. Contributes to the structural stability of the double helix |
QUESTION 13 OF 20
Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the mutation of genetic materials?
QUESTION 14 OF 20
Though DNA is the preferred genetic material for storage, how does it fulfill the requirement of expressing Mendelian characters?
QUESTION 15 OF 20
Arrange the evolutionary sequence of genetic materials and processes in the correct logical order:
I. Evolution of protein synthesizing machinery around RNA
II. Chemical modification of RNA to form more stable DNA III. RNA acts as the first genetic material and catalyst
QUESTION 16 OF 20
What dual role did RNA play in early evolutionary stages that made it essential but inherently unstable?
QUESTION 17 OF 20
Which of the following is NOT a consequence of having thymine in DNA instead of uracil?
QUESTION 18 OF 20
Consider the following statements regarding the reactivity of RNA:
I. The 2\'-OH group is present at every nucleotide in RNA.
II. RNA is known to be catalytic, which makes it reactive.
III. The reactivity of RNA makes it the preferred molecule for the storage of genetic information. Which of the statements are correct?
QUESTION 19 OF 20
The assertion that DNA derived from RNA precursors is supported by the fact that:
QUESTION 20 OF 20
How does the double-stranded nature of DNA allow it to resist evolutionary changes better than RNA?
Test Complete!
Answer Review
1 Which of the following is NOT true regarding the Griffith experiment findings?
S strain = Smooth, virulent, has a mucous coat. R strain = Rough, non-virulent, lacks a mucous coat. The statement in option C is biologically false.
The distinguishing feature of the R (Rough) strain in Griffith\'s experiment is the absence of the polysaccharide mucous coat, which is why it is non-virulent. Option C is the correct answer because it states the opposite of the known scientific fact. Options A, B, and D accurately describe Griffith\'s observations.
- Option A β True; R strain colonies are rough.
- Option B β True; S strain is virulent and causes pneumonia.
- Option D β True; heat-killing the S strain renders it non-infectious.
Used
- Extreme Word Filter: Identifying the statement that contradicts established experimental facts.
Final Logic: R strains are \"Rough\" specifically because they lack the \"Smooth\" (polysaccharide) coat.
\"R = Rough = Really unprotected.\"
2 Match the bacterial injection (Column I) with its specific effect on mice (Column II) in Griffith\'s experiment:
| Column I | Column II |
|---|---|
| 1. Live S strain | R. Dies |
| 2. Live R strain | P. Survives |
| 3. Heat-killed S strain | Q. Survives |
| 4. Heat-killed S strain + Live R strain | S. Transformation / Dies |
1 (S) -> Dies (R). 2 (R) -> Survives (P). 3 (Heat S) -> Survives (Q). 4 (Mix) -> Transformation/Dies (S).
Live S-strain kills the mouse (R). Live R-strain is harmless, so the mouse survives (P). Heat-killed S-strain loses virulence, so the mouse survives (Q). The mixture of heat-killed S and live R causes transformation, killing the mouse (S).
- Options B, C, and D assign incorrect outcomes to the injections.
Used
- Option Grouping: Mapping outcomes to specific experimental conditions.
Final Logic: Matching 1-R, 2-P, 3-Q, 4-S correctly aligns the bacterial state with the mouse survival rate.
\"S dies, R lives, Heat kills virulence, Mix kills.\"
3 Prior to the biochemical characterization by Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty (1933-44), what was the prevailing scientific belief regarding the biochemical nature of the genetic material?
Proteins were complex and diverse. DNA was thought to be a simple, repetitive polymer.
Before 1944, the majority of the scientific community favored proteins as the genetic material due to their greater structural diversity and complexity compared to the perceived \"simple\" structure of DNA.
- Option A β RNA was not considered the primary genetic candidate at that time.
- Option C β Polysaccharides were not primary candidates.
- Option D β This was the point being contested, not the consensus.
Used
- Contextual/Tonal Matching: Historical context of biological thought in the early 20th century.
Final Logic: Proteins were favored because they were seen as \"complex enough\" to carry information.
\"Pre-Avery = Protein craze.\"
4 Arrange the experimental deduction steps by Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty in the correct logical order:
I. Discover that DNA alone from S bacteria caused R bacteria to transform.
II. Purify biochemicals (proteins, DNA, RN
Purification (II) -> Negative tests (IV) -> Positive test/DNA (I) -> Conclusion (III).
First, they purified substances from S cells (II). Then, they treated samples with proteases/RNases and observed no change in transformation (IV). Next, they found that only DNA caused transformation (I). Finally, they concluded DNA is the genetic material (III).
- Other sequences misrepresent the logical progression of deduction.
Used
- Option Grouping: Logical flow of scientific experimentation.
Final Logic: Purify -> Rule out others -> Isolate the cause -> Conclude.
\"Purify, Eliminate, Isolate, Conclude.\"
5 Consider the following statements about DNase in the Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty experiment:
I. DNase digests DNA.
II. Digestion with DNase inhibited transformation.
III. Digestion with DNase accelerated the transformation of R cells to S cells. Which of the statements are correct?
DNase digests DNA (I). It inhibits transformation (II). It does not accelerate it (III).
DNase is an enzyme that breaks down DNA. By destroying the DNA in the extract, the \"transforming principle\" is eliminated, thereby inhibiting the transformation of R strain into S strain. Statement III is false because it stops, not accelerates, the process.
- Options B, C, and D contain Statement III, which is false.
Used
- Elimination: Identifying the false claim (III) and excluding options containing it.
Final Logic: If DNA is the transforming agent, destroying it (DNase) inhibits the effect.
\"DNase = Destruction = Stop.\"
6 Why did Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty\'s conclusion that DNA is the hereditary material face skepticism?
Scientific consensus was slow to change. The \"protein-as-genetic-material\" belief was deep-seated.
Scientific revolutions often face resistance. Despite the clear experimental results, many biologists at the time were so entrenched in the belief that proteins were the genetic material that they were not convinced by the work of Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty.
- Option A β They successfully isolated the principle.
- Option C β They showed RNA did not cause transformation.
- Option D β They used the standard Griffith system correctly.
Used
- Contextual/Tonal Matching: Understanding the history of scientific discovery and paradigm shifts.
Final Logic: Scientific bias meant the discovery wasn\'t immediately accepted by everyone.
\"New ideas often face resistance.\"
7
Phage attaches -> Injects material -> Hijacks cell -> Makes more virus.
The passage states: \"The bacteriophage attaches to the bacteria and its genetic material then enters the bacterial cell... manufactures more virus particles.\" This describes the process of hijacking the host\'s cellular machinery.
- Option A β Phages inject genetic material, they don\'t swallow cells.
- Option B β The bacteria is hijacked, not the one destroying the virus.
- Option D β The process is the other way around.
Used
- Contextual/Tonal Matching: Analyzing the provided passage text.
Final Logic: The passage explicitly defines the viral infection mechanism as hijacking.
\"Phage = Hijacker.\"
8
DNA has phosphate backbone. Proteins have sulfur (in some amino acids), not phosphorus.
The chemical composition of DNA includes a sugar-phosphate backbone, making it a source of phosphorus. Proteins are composed of amino acids, which contain carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, and often sulfur, but they lack phosphorus.
- Option A β Incorrect biological claim.
- Option C β Sulfur is in proteins, but it does not replace phosphorus in the DNA labeling sense.
- Option D β The medium does not destroy the virus.
Used
- Substitution: Using knowledge of biomolecule composition.
Final Logic: Phosphorus is a marker for DNA because it\'s a structural component of the nucleotide.
\"DNA = Phosphate Backbone.\"
9 Which of the following was NOT an outcome of the centrifugation step in the Hershey-Chase experiment?
Blending removes the coats. Centrifugation separates the already-removed coats from the cells.
The physical act of removing (stripping) the viral coats from the bacterial surface is performed by the blender. Centrifugation simply separates the heavier, infected bacterial cells (which form a pellet) from the lighter, empty viral protein coats (which remain in the supernatant).
- Option A β Centrifugation separates components by weight.
- Option C β Bacteria are denser and pelletize.
- Option D β Viral coats are lighter and float in the liquid.
Used
- Elimination: Differentiating between the \"blender\" (removal) and \"centrifuge\" (separation) steps.
Final Logic: Blending removes; Centrifugation separates.
\"Blend to strip, Spin to separate.\"
10 In the Hershey-Chase experiment, the presence of radioactive P-32 exclusively inside the infected bacterial cells proved that:
P-32 labeled DNA. P-32 was found inside the cell. Therefore, DNA entered the cell.
Since P-32 specifically labels DNA, its detection inside the host bacteria confirmed that the phage\'s DNA had successfully entered the cell. Because this DNA carried the instructions for viral replication, it proved that DNAβnot proteinβis the genetic material.
- Option A β Protein labeling (S-35) was found outside, not responsible for internal replication.
- Option B β Only DNA entered, proteins stayed outside.
- Option D β Irrelevant to the proof of genetic material.
Used
- Contextual/Tonal Matching: Interpreting the results of the Hershey-Chase proof.
Final Logic: P-32 inside = DNA inside = DNA is the genetic material.
\"P-32 internal = DNA is the eternal (hereditary) material.\"
11 Which of the following molecules fundamentally fails to fulfill the first requirement of a genetic material (the ability to generate a replica)?
Genetic material must replicate via templating. DNA and RNA use base pairing (A-T/U, G-C) for exact replication. This mechanism is the basis for hereditary transmission.
The fundamental requirement of any genetic material is the ability to generate a replica of itself. Both DNA and RNA achieve this through the principle of base-pairing and complementarity, where each strand acts as a template for synthesizing a new complementary strand. Options A and D relate to mutation and stability, not the mechanism of replication. Option C is incorrect because replication is primarily directed by the template, not just the enzymes.
- Option A β Rapid mutation is a property of some RNA viruses, not a mechanism of replication.
- Option C β Enzymes facilitate the process, but the \"rule of base pairing\" is the fundamental requirement for the template mechanism.
- Option D β The 2\'-OH group is a structural feature that decreases stability, not a replication mechanism.
Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching
Application: Matching the \"requirement of replication\" to the well-known mechanism of base pairing.
Final Logic: Complementarity is the core biological rule that allows for accurate DNA and RNA replication.
Complementary = Copying.
12 Match the structural feature (Column I) to its specific contribution to nucleic acid stability (Column II):
| Column I | Column II |
|---|---|
| 1. 2β²-OH group in RNA | P. Confers additional stability compared to uracil |
| 2. Thymine in DNA | Q. Makes the molecule labile and easily degradable |
| 3. Hydrogen bonding between strands | R. Allows strands separated by heat to come back together under appropriate conditions |
| 4. Complementarity of strands | S. Contributes to the structural stability of the double helix |
2\'-OH causes RNA instability (1-Q). Thymine is more stable than Uracil (2-P). H-bonding stabilizes the helix (3-S). Complementarity allows renaturation (4-R).
This question maps structural features to their functional outcomes. The 2\'-OH makes RNA reactive/labile (Q). Thymine provides stability compared to uracil (P). Hydrogen bonding is the force holding the double helix together (S). Complementarity is the principle that allows separated strands to re-anneal (renature) after heating (R). Option A is the only choice that matches these correctly.
- Option B β Incorrectly maps 2\'-OH to P.
- Option C β Incorrectly maps 3-R and 4-S.
- Option D β Incorrectly maps 1-S and 2-R.
Used: Option Grouping
Application: Identify the most certain pairs (e.g., 2-P: Thymine stability) and narrow the options.
Final Logic: Thymine\'s stability (P) and RNA\'s 2\'-OH lability (Q) are definitive NCERT facts.
2\'-OH = Quick to degrade (Labile).
13 Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the mutation of genetic materials?
RNA is chemically unstable, leading to higher mutation rates. DNA is stable and double-stranded, leading to lower mutation rates. Statement D contradicts biological reality.
DNA is a very stable molecule and, compared to RNA, exhibits a much lower mutation rate. Its double-stranded structure and proofreading mechanisms during replication ensure high fidelity. RNA, being single-stranded and chemically reactive, mutates and evolves much faster. Therefore, the statement that DNA mutates faster is false.
- Option A β Both molecules undergo mutations.
- Option B β RNA instability is linked to its higher mutation rate.
- Option C β RNA viruses (like TMV or Influenza) are known for rapid evolution.
Used: Elimination
Application: Identifying the statement that contradicts the known stability profile of DNA vs RNA.
Final Logic: DNA is the stable \"storage\" medium, meaning it is resistant to rapid change, not prone to it.
DNA = Durable/Stable; RNA = Rapid evolution.
14 Though DNA is the preferred genetic material for storage, how does it fulfill the requirement of expressing Mendelian characters?
DNA carries information but cannot act directly as a template for translation. DNA must be transcribed into mRNA. The protein-synthesizing machinery (ribosomes) requires RNA.
DNA acts as the template for transcription, producing mRNA. This mRNA then serves as the template for protein synthesis in the ribosome. Because the cellular machinery for translation relies on RNA (rRNA/tRNA), DNA depends on these RNA intermediates to express the genetic traits (Mendelian characters) encoded in its sequence.
- Option A β DNA never synthesizes proteins directly; transcription is an obligate step.
- Option B β RNA does not \"act as a protein\"; it codes for them.
- Option D β DNA does not have a 2\'-OH group (it has a 2\'-H).
Used: Elimination
Application: Eliminate incorrect biological pathways (direct synthesis, DNA having 2\'-OH).
Final Logic: Information storage (DNA) must be converted to an active form (RNA) to build phenotypic traits (proteins).
DNA (Code) β RNA (Expression) β Protein (Trait).
15 Arrange the evolutionary sequence of genetic materials and processes in the correct logical order:
I. Evolution of protein synthesizing machinery around RNA
II. Chemical modification of RNA to form more stable DNA III. RNA acts as the first genetic material and catalyst
RNA was the first material/catalyst (III). Protein synthesis evolved using this RNA (I). DNA later evolved to stabilize the information (II).
The RNA World Hypothesis suggests the sequence: first, RNA acted as both the genetic material and the catalyst (III). Then, essential processes like translation evolved, relying on RNA-based machinery (I). Finally, to overcome the instability of RNA, chemical modifications led to the evolution of DNA (II), which took over the role of stable genetic storage.
- Option B, C, D β These suggest sequences that contradict the evolutionary logic of RNA being the precursor to the DNA-protein system.
Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching
Application: Arrange based on the evolutionary progression from simple/reactive to complex/stable.
Final Logic: RNA (primitive/active) β DNA (advanced/stable).
RNA First, DNA Second.
16 What dual role did RNA play in early evolutionary stages that made it essential but inherently unstable?
RNA stores genetic info. RNA (ribozymes) catalyzes reactions. This versatility defines the \"RNA World.\"
The RNA World hypothesis highlights that RNA was the primary molecule for both information storage (genetics) and biochemical catalysis (ribozymes). This dual nature was essential for the origin of life but also made RNA problematic as a long-term storage medium due to its reactivity (instability).
- Option A β Lipids are not RNA.
- Option C β These are regulatory genetic elements, not the primary \"dual roles\" of early RNA.
- Option D β RNA is primarily single-stranded; double-stranded storage is a feature of evolved DNA.
Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching
Application: Identifying the definition of the \"RNA World\" concept.
Final Logic: \"Dual role\" in biology and evolution refers to the genetic/catalytic functions of RNA.
RNA = Replicator + Reactor.
17 Which of the following is NOT a consequence of having thymine in DNA instead of uracil?
Thymine is stable (unlike Uracil in some contexts). DNA is the stable storage molecule, not the reactive catalyst. Option C is factually the opposite of the truth.
The replacement of uracil with thymine (5-methyl uracil) in DNA enhances the stability of the double helix and protects the genome. This modification makes DNA less reactive, not more catalytic or labile. Labile and catalytic characteristics are specific to RNA, not DNA.
- Option A, B, and D β These correctly describe the benefits of Thymine for DNA.
Used: Elimination
Application: Exclude the options describing advantages of DNA, keeping the one describing a disadvantage (which is what the question asks for).
Final Logic: Thymine makes DNA stable; saying it makes it \"highly catalytic and labile\" is logically false.
Thymine = Tough, not Trigger-happy (catalytic).
18 Consider the following statements regarding the reactivity of RNA:
I. The 2\'-OH group is present at every nucleotide in RNA.
II. RNA is known to be catalytic, which makes it reactive.
III. The reactivity of RNA makes it the preferred molecule for the storage of genetic information. Which of the statements are correct?
RNA has 2\'-OH (I is correct). Catalytic RNA is reactive (II is correct). Reactivity makes RNA unsuitable for storage (III is incorrect).
Statement I is correct: ribose sugar in RNA has an -OH at the 2\' position. Statement II is correct: being a catalyst (ribozyme) requires high chemical reactivity. Statement III is incorrect: because RNA is highly reactive, it is unstable and therefore not preferred for the long-term storage of genetic information (DNA is preferred for this).
- Options containing III are incorrect because they promote RNA as the preferred storage molecule, which contradicts evolutionary biology.
Used: Elimination
Application: Recognize that statement III is factually incorrect based on the core theme of the chapter.
Final Logic: Reactivity = Instability = Bad for storage.
Reactive RNA = Really Avoid for storage.
19 The assertion that DNA derived from RNA precursors is supported by the fact that:
DNA is \"built\" on an RNA-evolved world. Translation and metabolism are RNA-centric. DNA is only the stable library, while the \"work\" is still done by RNA.
The evidence for DNA evolving from RNA precursors includes the fact that all basic cellular mechanisms (metabolism and protein translation) are built around RNA (ribozymes/ribosomes). Furthermore, the fact that DNA needs RNA to express itself (via mRNA) suggests that the RNA-based system existed first and DNA was a later, more stable \"add-on.\"
- A, B, and C are all individually correct observations cited by evolutionary biologists as evidence.
Used: Option Grouping
Application: If multiple options seem logically correct and support the main thesis, \"All of the above\" is the most comprehensive choice.
Final Logic: These are all distinct pillars of the \"RNA World\" evidence.
All Are Accepted.
20 How does the double-stranded nature of DNA allow it to resist evolutionary changes better than RNA?
Double-stranded DNA provides a template for repair. If one strand is damaged, the other holds the correct code. This increases stability over generations.
The double-stranded nature of DNA provides a massive evolutionary advantage: the \"backup\" copy. Because the two strands are complementary, if one strand is damaged (e.g., via deamination), the repair machinery can use the information on the undamaged strand to accurately fix the error. This is a critical feature that makes DNA a stable and reliable medium for long-term genetic storage.
- Option A β DNA is not a catalyst.
- Option C β Mutation is essential for evolution; it is not eliminated.
- Option D β DNA replication requires enzymes (e.g., DNA polymerase).
Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching
Application: Identify the primary benefit of \"double-strandedness\" in a storage molecule.
Final Logic: Double strand = Redundancy = Repair = Stability.
Double = Duplicate (Backup/Repair).
