BIOLOGY HOW LIFE WORKS 4TH EDITION
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ idea about genetic information before 1950. Answer: it was carried by
proteins (highly diverse, carry out most activities)
◉ To be genetic material you have to.... Answer: store genetic
information, make copies of yourself, and direct the synthesis of other
macromolecules
◉ nucleotides. Answer: consist of a 5 carbon sugar, a base, and one or
more phosphate groups
◉ the backbone of DNA. Answer: formed by 5 carbon sugars and
phosphate groups
◉ What gives each nucleotide its chemical identity?. Answer: the bases
sticking out from the sugar
◉ 5 carbon sugar is indicated by a. Answer: pentagon (4/5 vertices
represent position of carbon atom
, ◉ the sugar in DNA. Answer: deoxyribose (minus oxygen)
◉ two oxygens on phosphate group attached to 5' carbon have. Answer:
negative charges because are ionized by loss of proton
◉ DNA is a ______acid because.... Answer: mild, it tends to lose
protons to the aqueous environment
◉ purines. Answer: A, G, double ring (carbon nitrogen bases)
◉ pyrimidines. Answer: T, C, single ring (carbon nitrogen base)
◉ nucleoside. Answer: combination of sugar and base
◉ nucleoside with one or more phosphate groups. Answer: nucleotide
◉ nucleoside monophosphate/ diphosphate/ triphosphate. Answer:
nucleoside with 1/2/3 phosphate groups
◉ molecules used to form DNA and RNA, carriers of chemical energy.
Answer: nucleoside triphosphates
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ idea about genetic information before 1950. Answer: it was carried by
proteins (highly diverse, carry out most activities)
◉ To be genetic material you have to.... Answer: store genetic
information, make copies of yourself, and direct the synthesis of other
macromolecules
◉ nucleotides. Answer: consist of a 5 carbon sugar, a base, and one or
more phosphate groups
◉ the backbone of DNA. Answer: formed by 5 carbon sugars and
phosphate groups
◉ What gives each nucleotide its chemical identity?. Answer: the bases
sticking out from the sugar
◉ 5 carbon sugar is indicated by a. Answer: pentagon (4/5 vertices
represent position of carbon atom
, ◉ the sugar in DNA. Answer: deoxyribose (minus oxygen)
◉ two oxygens on phosphate group attached to 5' carbon have. Answer:
negative charges because are ionized by loss of proton
◉ DNA is a ______acid because.... Answer: mild, it tends to lose
protons to the aqueous environment
◉ purines. Answer: A, G, double ring (carbon nitrogen bases)
◉ pyrimidines. Answer: T, C, single ring (carbon nitrogen base)
◉ nucleoside. Answer: combination of sugar and base
◉ nucleoside with one or more phosphate groups. Answer: nucleotide
◉ nucleoside monophosphate/ diphosphate/ triphosphate. Answer:
nucleoside with 1/2/3 phosphate groups
◉ molecules used to form DNA and RNA, carriers of chemical energy.
Answer: nucleoside triphosphates
