1

Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Very Short Answer Questions

1.

Genes contain the information that is required to express a particular trait. Explain.

[Exemplar]

Short Answer Questions

1.
2.
3.

Retrovirus do not follow central dogma. Comment.

[Exemplar]
What are the functions of (i) methylated guanosine cap, (ii)
poly-A tail in a mature on RNA?
[Exemplar]
Differentiate between transformation and transduction.
[HOTS]

4.

5.

Name the bonds between (i) N-base and pentose sugar (ii)
pentose sugar and phosphate (iii) one nucleotide and
another nucleotide (iv) N-base of one chain and N-base of
another chain.
[HOTS]
Do both the strands of DNA have the same biological
information? Explain.
[HOTS]

Long Answer Questions

1.

2.

In a fight between a thief and an owner of a jewellery shop,

the thief got injured but somehow managed to escape. The
owner lodged a police complaint. The police collected some
blood samples from the scene of crime.
[Value Based]
(a) Can the police identify the thief from the blood sample?
Name the technique used in this.
(b) Describe the technique.
(c) Indicate the value such technique to human.
You have learnt that genes are responsible for the
characteristic features (or traits) of an organism plant or
animal. The genetic information lies in the sequence of bases
in DNA which form a gene. This lead to the desire of finding
out the complete DNA sequence of human genome. The
human genome project (HGP) was launched in 1990 and it
took 13 year to complete.
[Value Based]
(a) List the goals of HGP.

3.

4.

(b) What purpose will these programmes serve to humans?

(c) Which branch of biology was this programme associated with?
A science teacher told the students that DNA is the genetic
material for all the organisms except some viruses. Beside
DNA, the organisms also possess another nucleic acid called
RNA.
[Value Based]
(i) What is the difference in the structure of the nucleotides of DNA and RNA?
(ii) What is the role of RNA in the cell?
(iii) What makes the DNA, as suitable genetic material?
(iv) What value is exhibited by a teacher?
You are repeating the Hershey-Chase experiment and are
provided with two isotopes: 32P and 15N (in place of 35S in
the original experiment). How do you expect your results to
be different?
[Exemplar]

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SOLUTIONS
PART C : HOTS/ Exemplar/ Value Based Questions

Very Short Answer Questions

1.

The genes present in an organism show a particular trait by

way of forming certain product. This is facilitated by the
process of transcription and translation (according to central
dogma of genetics).

Short Answer Questions

1.

2.

3.

4.
5.

Genetic material of retrovirus is RNA. At the time of synthesis

of protein, RNA is reverse transcribed to its complementary
DNA first, which is opposite to the central dogma. Hence,
retrovirus are not known to follow central dogma.
Methylated Guanine cap helps in binding of mRNA to smaller
ribosomal sub-unit during initiation of translation. Poly A
tail provides longevity to mRNAs life. Tail length and
longevity of mRNA are positively correlated.
Transformation is the change in the genetic constitution of
an organism by picking up genes (DNA) present in the
remains of its dead relatives. Transduction is the transfer of
genetic material (genes/DNA) from one bacterium (donor)
to another bacterium (recipient) through bacteriophages
(bacterial viruses).
(i) N-glycosidic bond (ii) Ester bond (iii) Phosphodiester
bond (iv) Hydrogen bonds (double bond between A = T,
and triple bond between G C.
No, both the strands of DNA do not contain same biological
information. In a segment of DNA, one strand contains the
information and is called sense/template strand while the
second strand is antisense strand or non-template strand.

Long Answer Questions

1.

(a)

2.

3.

(vii) Auto radiography- The membrane is pressed onto

an X-ray film and dark bands develop the probe
sites which resemble bar codes.
(c) This technique is of great value to humans. It can be
used to:(i) To identify criminals in forensic lab
(ii) To determine real parents in cases of disputes
(iii) To verify whether an immigrant is really a close
relative of the mentioned resident
(iv) To identify racial groups.
(a) The goals of HGP are as follows:(i) To identify all genes in human DNA
(ii) To determine the sequences of 3 billion base pairs
present in human DNA
(iii) To store this information in databases.
(iv) To improve the tools in data analysis
(v) To transfer the technologies to other sectors.
(vi) To address the ethical, legal & social issues that
may arise from this project.
(b) HGP programme has number of uses.
(i) It can help in diagnosing, treating and even
preventing a number of disease that effect human
beings.
(ii) It provides clues to the understanding of human
biology
(c) HGP is closely associated with the rapid development
of a new area in biology called as Bioinformatics.
(i) Nucleotides of DNA contain deoxyribose sugar and
nitrogen bases other than uracil while in RNA, the
nucleotides contain ribose sugar and nitrogen bases
except thymine.
(ii) RNA is a reactive molecule which functions as
messenger, adapter, structural and in some cases as
catalytic molecule.
(iii) DNA is a most suitable genetic material because:
(a) less reactive and structurally more stable.
(b) capable of replication.
(c) have the property to mutate, a requirement for
evolution.
(d) able to express in the form of Mendelian characters.
(iv) Values : Teacher try to explains and articulate a concept
in a simple language so that students understand it
clearly.
Use of 15 N will be inappropriate because method of
detection of 35p and 15N is different (32p being a radioactive
isotope while 15N is not radioactive but is the heavier isotope
of Nitrogen). Even if 15N was radioactive then its presence
would have been detected both inside the cell ( 15 N
incorporated as nitrogenous base in DNA) as well as in the
supernatant because 15N would also get incorporated in
amino group of amino acids in proteins). Hence the use of
15N would not give any conclusive results.

Yes, the police can identify the thief from the blood
sample collected from the scene of crime by sending
the sample to forensic labs for DNA fingerprinting.
(b) DNA fingerprinting involves identifying differences in
some specific regions in DNA sequence called as
repetitive DNA. These repeats vary in number from
person to person and are inherited.
The technique involves the following steps:(i) Extraction DNA is extracted from cells in a centrifuge
(ii) Amplification - Many copies of extracted DNA
are made by polymerase chain reaction.
(iii) Restriction Digestion DNA is cut into fragments 4.
with enzymes into precise sequences.
(iv) Separation of DNA sequences The cut DNA
fragments are passed though electrophoresis set
up containing agarose gel and the separated fragments can be seen under UV radiation.
(v) Southern Blotting- The separated sequences are
transferred onto a nylon membrane.
(vi) Hybridisation- The nylon membrane is immersed
in a bath and radioactive probes are added.
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