MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY EXAM SCRIPT
2026 TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ What are the universal determinants of life? Answer: Heredity,
Metabolism, Compartmentalization.
◉ What is the role of DNA in living cells? Answer: DNA stores the
appropriate biological information for life.
◉ What process do all cells use to transcribe DNA? Answer: All cells
transcribe portions of their DNA into RNA.
◉ What is the Central Dogma of molecular biology? Answer: It
dictates how DNA is read and translated into proteins.
◉ What is templated polymerization? Answer: The process through
which all cells replicate their hereditary information.
◉ How do cells maintain their organization? Answer: Through
metabolism, which allows them to consume energy.
, ◉ What is homeostasis in the context of cellular metabolism?
Answer: Cells are in a state of trying to attain a non-entropic energy
balance.
◉ What is the significance of DMS (di-methylsulfide) in the search
for extraterrestrial life? Answer: It was considered a biosignature
indicative of metabolism.
◉ What is the smallest known living organism? Answer:
Mycoplasma genitalium.
◉ How many genes does Mycoplasma genitalium have? Answer: It
has a genome of only 525 genes.
◉ What is the primary function of compartmentalization in cells?
Answer: To contain biochemical factories within an enclosed plasma
membrane.
◉ What is the importance of protein or RNA catalysts in cellular
metabolism? Answer: They ensure biochemical reactions occur
efficiently.
◉ What must all cells do to replicate their genomic information?
Answer: They must faithfully replicate it and pass it along
independently.
2026 TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ What are the universal determinants of life? Answer: Heredity,
Metabolism, Compartmentalization.
◉ What is the role of DNA in living cells? Answer: DNA stores the
appropriate biological information for life.
◉ What process do all cells use to transcribe DNA? Answer: All cells
transcribe portions of their DNA into RNA.
◉ What is the Central Dogma of molecular biology? Answer: It
dictates how DNA is read and translated into proteins.
◉ What is templated polymerization? Answer: The process through
which all cells replicate their hereditary information.
◉ How do cells maintain their organization? Answer: Through
metabolism, which allows them to consume energy.
, ◉ What is homeostasis in the context of cellular metabolism?
Answer: Cells are in a state of trying to attain a non-entropic energy
balance.
◉ What is the significance of DMS (di-methylsulfide) in the search
for extraterrestrial life? Answer: It was considered a biosignature
indicative of metabolism.
◉ What is the smallest known living organism? Answer:
Mycoplasma genitalium.
◉ How many genes does Mycoplasma genitalium have? Answer: It
has a genome of only 525 genes.
◉ What is the primary function of compartmentalization in cells?
Answer: To contain biochemical factories within an enclosed plasma
membrane.
◉ What is the importance of protein or RNA catalysts in cellular
metabolism? Answer: They ensure biochemical reactions occur
efficiently.
◉ What must all cells do to replicate their genomic information?
Answer: They must faithfully replicate it and pass it along
independently.
