BIOD 210 (NUTRITION & GENETICS EXAMS) PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026.
1. Which macronutrient provides the highest energy per gram?
A. Carbohydrates
B. Proteins
C. Lipids
D. Vitamins
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Lipids provide 9 kcal/g, whereas carbohydrates and proteins provide 4
kcal/g. Vitamins do not provide energy.
2. A mutation that results in a premature stop codon is known as:
A. Missense mutation
B. Silent mutation
C. Nonsense mutation
D. Frameshift mutation
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A nonsense mutation introduces a stop codon, terminating protein
synthesis prematurely. Missense alters amino acids, silent causes no change, and
frameshift shifts the reading frame.
3. Which vitamin is essential for calcium absorption in the intestine?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin K
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Vitamin D enhances intestinal absorption of calcium. Vitamin K is
involved in clotting, vitamin A in vision, and vitamin C in collagen synthesis.
4. In genetics, what does “homozygous” mean?
A. Two different alleles
B. One dominant allele
C. Two identical alleles
D. No alleles present
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Homozygous refers to having two identical alleles for a gene.
Heterozygous means different alleles.
,5. Which type of RNA carries amino acids to the ribosome?
A. mRNA
B. rRNA
C. tRNA
D. snRNA
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: tRNA transports amino acids during protein synthesis. mRNA carries
genetic code, rRNA forms ribosomes.
6. Which mineral is a key component of hemoglobin?
A. Calcium
B. Iron
C. Zinc
D. Magnesium
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Iron is essential for oxygen transport in hemoglobin. Deficiency leads to
anemia.
7. A diet deficient in vitamin C leads to:
A. Rickets
B. Scurvy
C. Pellagra
D. Beriberi
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy, characterized by bleeding gums
and poor wound healing.
8. Which genetic inheritance pattern requires two copies of a mutated gene for
expression?
A. Autosomal dominant
B. Autosomal recessive
C. X-linked dominant
D. Mitochondrial inheritance
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Autosomal recessive disorders require two mutated alleles. Dominant
conditions require only one.
9. Which enzyme begins carbohydrate digestion in the mouth?
A. Lipase
B. Pepsin
C. Amylase
D. Trypsin
, Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Salivary amylase starts carbohydrate digestion. Lipase digests fats,
pepsin proteins.
10. What is the functional unit of a gene that codes for a protein?
A. Codon
B. Exon
C. Intron
D. Operon
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Exons are coding regions of genes that translate into protein. Introns
are non-coding.
11. Which nutrient is most critical for DNA synthesis?
A. Vitamin B12
B. Vitamin A
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin E
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Vitamin B12 is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division. Deficiency
leads to megaloblastic anemia.
12. A frameshift mutation typically results from:
A. Substitution of one base
B. Deletion or insertion of bases
C. Duplication of genes
D. Crossing over
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Insertions or deletions shift the reading frame, altering downstream
amino acids.
13. Which fatty acids are considered essential?
A. Saturated fatty acids
B. Trans fatty acids
C. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
D. Monounsaturated fatty acids
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Omega-3 and Omega-6 cannot be synthesized by the body and must be
obtained from diet.
, 14. What is the primary function of ribosomes?
A. DNA replication
B. Protein synthesis
C. Lipid storage
D. Energy production
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis, translating mRNA into
amino acid sequences.
15. Which condition results from iodine deficiency?
A. Goiter
B. Anemia
C. Osteoporosis
D. Hypertension
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Iodine deficiency leads to thyroid enlargement (goiter) due to impaired
hormone production.
16. Which structure regulates gene expression in prokaryotes?
A. Promoter
B. Operon
C. Enhancer
D. Telomere
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Operons are clusters of genes regulated together in prokaryotes.
17. What is the main storage form of carbohydrates in humans?
A. Glucose
B. Glycogen
C. Cellulose
D. Starch
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Glycogen is stored in liver and muscles as a glucose reserve.
18. Which vitamin acts as an antioxidant protecting cell membranes?
A. Vitamin E
B. Vitamin K
C. Vitamin B1
D. Vitamin B6
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Vitamin E protects lipids from oxidative damage.
AND ANSWERS 2026.
1. Which macronutrient provides the highest energy per gram?
A. Carbohydrates
B. Proteins
C. Lipids
D. Vitamins
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Lipids provide 9 kcal/g, whereas carbohydrates and proteins provide 4
kcal/g. Vitamins do not provide energy.
2. A mutation that results in a premature stop codon is known as:
A. Missense mutation
B. Silent mutation
C. Nonsense mutation
D. Frameshift mutation
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A nonsense mutation introduces a stop codon, terminating protein
synthesis prematurely. Missense alters amino acids, silent causes no change, and
frameshift shifts the reading frame.
3. Which vitamin is essential for calcium absorption in the intestine?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin K
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Vitamin D enhances intestinal absorption of calcium. Vitamin K is
involved in clotting, vitamin A in vision, and vitamin C in collagen synthesis.
4. In genetics, what does “homozygous” mean?
A. Two different alleles
B. One dominant allele
C. Two identical alleles
D. No alleles present
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Homozygous refers to having two identical alleles for a gene.
Heterozygous means different alleles.
,5. Which type of RNA carries amino acids to the ribosome?
A. mRNA
B. rRNA
C. tRNA
D. snRNA
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: tRNA transports amino acids during protein synthesis. mRNA carries
genetic code, rRNA forms ribosomes.
6. Which mineral is a key component of hemoglobin?
A. Calcium
B. Iron
C. Zinc
D. Magnesium
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Iron is essential for oxygen transport in hemoglobin. Deficiency leads to
anemia.
7. A diet deficient in vitamin C leads to:
A. Rickets
B. Scurvy
C. Pellagra
D. Beriberi
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy, characterized by bleeding gums
and poor wound healing.
8. Which genetic inheritance pattern requires two copies of a mutated gene for
expression?
A. Autosomal dominant
B. Autosomal recessive
C. X-linked dominant
D. Mitochondrial inheritance
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Autosomal recessive disorders require two mutated alleles. Dominant
conditions require only one.
9. Which enzyme begins carbohydrate digestion in the mouth?
A. Lipase
B. Pepsin
C. Amylase
D. Trypsin
, Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Salivary amylase starts carbohydrate digestion. Lipase digests fats,
pepsin proteins.
10. What is the functional unit of a gene that codes for a protein?
A. Codon
B. Exon
C. Intron
D. Operon
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Exons are coding regions of genes that translate into protein. Introns
are non-coding.
11. Which nutrient is most critical for DNA synthesis?
A. Vitamin B12
B. Vitamin A
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin E
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Vitamin B12 is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division. Deficiency
leads to megaloblastic anemia.
12. A frameshift mutation typically results from:
A. Substitution of one base
B. Deletion or insertion of bases
C. Duplication of genes
D. Crossing over
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Insertions or deletions shift the reading frame, altering downstream
amino acids.
13. Which fatty acids are considered essential?
A. Saturated fatty acids
B. Trans fatty acids
C. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
D. Monounsaturated fatty acids
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Omega-3 and Omega-6 cannot be synthesized by the body and must be
obtained from diet.
, 14. What is the primary function of ribosomes?
A. DNA replication
B. Protein synthesis
C. Lipid storage
D. Energy production
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis, translating mRNA into
amino acid sequences.
15. Which condition results from iodine deficiency?
A. Goiter
B. Anemia
C. Osteoporosis
D. Hypertension
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Iodine deficiency leads to thyroid enlargement (goiter) due to impaired
hormone production.
16. Which structure regulates gene expression in prokaryotes?
A. Promoter
B. Operon
C. Enhancer
D. Telomere
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Operons are clusters of genes regulated together in prokaryotes.
17. What is the main storage form of carbohydrates in humans?
A. Glucose
B. Glycogen
C. Cellulose
D. Starch
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Glycogen is stored in liver and muscles as a glucose reserve.
18. Which vitamin acts as an antioxidant protecting cell membranes?
A. Vitamin E
B. Vitamin K
C. Vitamin B1
D. Vitamin B6
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Vitamin E protects lipids from oxidative damage.
