Genetics Exam questions and
answers graded A+
Cell - ANS✅✅basic unit of life, living organisms are made up of one or more cells, smallest unit of
life that can function independently
Cell features (all cells) - ANS✅✅small size, DNA, plasma membrane, cytoplasm, cytosol, RNA,
proteins, ribosomes
Micrograph - ANS✅✅image captured under a microscope
Prokaryotic cells - ANS✅✅lack nucleus, smaller
Eukaryotic cells - ANS✅✅have nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, larger
Prokaryote structures - ANS✅✅ribosomes, cytoplasm, DNA, RNA, cell membrane
Eukaryote structures - ANS✅✅rough and smooth ER, golgi apparatus, mitochondria, centrioles,
chloroplasts, cell wall, central vacuole
Cysoplasm - ANS✅✅a fluid called cytosol plus all the cell contents between the nucleus and cell
membrane
Cell membrane - ANS✅✅a lipid bilayer surrounds the cytoplasm and contents of a cell, forming
boundary between interior and environment
DNA - ANS✅✅nucleic acid serves as the genetic material in all cells, encodes information for the
production of proteins and RNA
RNA - ANS✅✅nucleic acid that is synthesized from DNA and is used at ribosomes to coordinate
the synthesis of proteins
,Ribosomes - ANS✅✅structures composed of RNA and and proteins that are the site of protein
synthesis
Organelles - ANS✅✅membrane-bound compartments in eukaryotic cells that carry out specialized
functions
Nucleus - ANS✅✅contains DNA and acts as command center of cell
Rough ER - ANS✅✅network of membranes studded with ribosomes, plays a role in protein
synthesis
Smooth ER - ANS✅✅network of membranes and is the site of lipid synthesis and detoxification of
certain drugs
Golgi apparatus - ANS✅✅stack of flattened sacks where proteins are modified, processed, and
packaged for different locations in the cell
Mitochondria - ANS✅✅carries our cellular respiration to produce ATP
Chloroplast - ANS✅✅carries out photosynthesis to produce sugars
Central vacuole - ANS✅✅large, fluid-filled sac for storing water and metabolites
Centrioles - ANS✅✅two short cylinders of proteins that help to organize microtubules
Cell wall - ANS✅✅outer layer of the cell that surrounds the cell membrane and provides shape,
support, and strength to cell
Lysosomes - ANS✅✅vesicles that digest macromolecules and cell parts
Cell biology - ANS✅✅the study of individual cells and their interactions with each other
, Cell theory - ANS✅✅states that all organisms are made of cells, cells are the smallest units of living
organisms, and new cells come from pre-existing cells by cell division
Origin of cells - ANS✅✅1. Nucleotides/amino acids were produced
2. Nucleotides became polymerized to form RNA and DNA, amino acids became proteins
3. Polymers became enclosed in membranes
4. Acquired properties associated with living cells via chemical selection
Protobiont - ANS✅✅term used to describe the first nonliving structure that could have evolved
into a living cell
Liposomes - ANS✅✅vesicle surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer
RNA 3 key functions - ANS✅✅1. Store info in nucleotide sequence
2. Nucleotide sequence can self replicate
3. Perform variety of catalytic functions, can function as ribozymes
Ribozymes - ANS✅✅biological catalyst that is a RNA molecule
Chemical selection - ANS✅✅process that occurs when a chemical within a mixture has special
properties or advantages that cause it to increase in amount relative to other chemicals in the
mixture
Chemical evolution - ANS✅✅process by which a population of molecules changes over time to
become a new population with a different chemical composition
RNA world - ANS✅✅hypothetical period on earth when both the information needed for life and
the catalytic activity of living cells were contained only in RNA molecules
Resolution - ANS✅✅ability to observe two adjacent objects as distinct from each other; measure
of clarity
Contrast - ANS✅✅relative differences in lightness/darkness/color between adjacent regions in a
sample
answers graded A+
Cell - ANS✅✅basic unit of life, living organisms are made up of one or more cells, smallest unit of
life that can function independently
Cell features (all cells) - ANS✅✅small size, DNA, plasma membrane, cytoplasm, cytosol, RNA,
proteins, ribosomes
Micrograph - ANS✅✅image captured under a microscope
Prokaryotic cells - ANS✅✅lack nucleus, smaller
Eukaryotic cells - ANS✅✅have nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, larger
Prokaryote structures - ANS✅✅ribosomes, cytoplasm, DNA, RNA, cell membrane
Eukaryote structures - ANS✅✅rough and smooth ER, golgi apparatus, mitochondria, centrioles,
chloroplasts, cell wall, central vacuole
Cysoplasm - ANS✅✅a fluid called cytosol plus all the cell contents between the nucleus and cell
membrane
Cell membrane - ANS✅✅a lipid bilayer surrounds the cytoplasm and contents of a cell, forming
boundary between interior and environment
DNA - ANS✅✅nucleic acid serves as the genetic material in all cells, encodes information for the
production of proteins and RNA
RNA - ANS✅✅nucleic acid that is synthesized from DNA and is used at ribosomes to coordinate
the synthesis of proteins
,Ribosomes - ANS✅✅structures composed of RNA and and proteins that are the site of protein
synthesis
Organelles - ANS✅✅membrane-bound compartments in eukaryotic cells that carry out specialized
functions
Nucleus - ANS✅✅contains DNA and acts as command center of cell
Rough ER - ANS✅✅network of membranes studded with ribosomes, plays a role in protein
synthesis
Smooth ER - ANS✅✅network of membranes and is the site of lipid synthesis and detoxification of
certain drugs
Golgi apparatus - ANS✅✅stack of flattened sacks where proteins are modified, processed, and
packaged for different locations in the cell
Mitochondria - ANS✅✅carries our cellular respiration to produce ATP
Chloroplast - ANS✅✅carries out photosynthesis to produce sugars
Central vacuole - ANS✅✅large, fluid-filled sac for storing water and metabolites
Centrioles - ANS✅✅two short cylinders of proteins that help to organize microtubules
Cell wall - ANS✅✅outer layer of the cell that surrounds the cell membrane and provides shape,
support, and strength to cell
Lysosomes - ANS✅✅vesicles that digest macromolecules and cell parts
Cell biology - ANS✅✅the study of individual cells and their interactions with each other
, Cell theory - ANS✅✅states that all organisms are made of cells, cells are the smallest units of living
organisms, and new cells come from pre-existing cells by cell division
Origin of cells - ANS✅✅1. Nucleotides/amino acids were produced
2. Nucleotides became polymerized to form RNA and DNA, amino acids became proteins
3. Polymers became enclosed in membranes
4. Acquired properties associated with living cells via chemical selection
Protobiont - ANS✅✅term used to describe the first nonliving structure that could have evolved
into a living cell
Liposomes - ANS✅✅vesicle surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer
RNA 3 key functions - ANS✅✅1. Store info in nucleotide sequence
2. Nucleotide sequence can self replicate
3. Perform variety of catalytic functions, can function as ribozymes
Ribozymes - ANS✅✅biological catalyst that is a RNA molecule
Chemical selection - ANS✅✅process that occurs when a chemical within a mixture has special
properties or advantages that cause it to increase in amount relative to other chemicals in the
mixture
Chemical evolution - ANS✅✅process by which a population of molecules changes over time to
become a new population with a different chemical composition
RNA world - ANS✅✅hypothetical period on earth when both the information needed for life and
the catalytic activity of living cells were contained only in RNA molecules
Resolution - ANS✅✅ability to observe two adjacent objects as distinct from each other; measure
of clarity
Contrast - ANS✅✅relative differences in lightness/darkness/color between adjacent regions in a
sample
