2026-2027 BIOCHEMISTRY I MODULE OF
THE MCAT SELF PREP ECOURSE: LESSON
1: AMINO ACIDS AND PROTEINS (PRO)
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 100% PASS
DNA copies itself through a process known as:
(A) Replication
(B) Translation
(C) Transcription
(D) Integration
(A) Replication
DNA copies itself through a process known as replication.
DNA is used as a template to generate RNA in a process known as:
(A) Replication
(B) Translation
(C) Transcription
(D) Integration
(C) Transcription
DNA is used as a template to generate RNA in a process known as transcription.
,Protein is generated using RNA as instructions in a process known as:
(A) Replication
(B) Translation
(C) Transcription
(D) Integration
(B) Translation
Protein is generated using RNA as instructions in a process known as translation.
Compare Polymers and Monomers.
Polymers are made up of individual sub-units called monomers.
True or False? DNA, RNA, and protein are all linear polymers.
True. The structure of DNA, RNA, and protein is similar in that they are all linear polymers because each
individual unit (or monomer) is attached to only one or two other units, resulting in a long chain.
What monomers make up DNA? RNA? Protein?
The monomers that make up DNA are known as deoxyribonucleotides.
The monomers that make up RNA are known as ribonucleotides.
The monomers that make up protein are known as amino acids.
,What benefits does the linear polymer structure of DNA, RNA, and protein provide during transcription
and translation?
The linear polymer structure of DNA, RNA, and protein helps to transfer and preserve the encoding of
information during transcription and translation.
What is the central dogma of molecular biology?
DNA makes RNA, which makes protein.
How can one easily differentiate transcription and translation using base words "script" and "translate"?
The word "script" refers to written forms. Transcription goes from one written form (DNA) to another
(RNA) using a common "alphabet" (aka nucleic acids).
Translation refers to the need to "translate" from one language to another. Here, nucleic acids from one
language (RNA) are translated into amino acids of another language (protein).
RNA is used as a template in the formation of cDNA through the process of:
(A) Reverse Replication
(B) Reverse Translation
(C) Reverse Transcription
(D) Reverse Integration
, (C) Reverse Transcription
What is the function of reverse transcriptase?
Reverse transcriptase is the enzyme that carries out reverse transcription, in which complementary DNA
(cDNA) is generated from an RNA template.
What is most likely to occur if a patient with HIV is administered a medicinal drug that deactivates the
enzyme reverse transcriptase?
(A) The patient will die.
(B) The patient's chances at survival will increase.
(C) The patient's chances at survival will decrease, but they will not die.
(D) The patient may go into a coma.
(B) The patient's chances at survival will increase.
Reverse transcriptase is used by HIV to reverse transcribe the retrovirus's RNA into DNA, which can then
be integrated into the host's DNA. Deactivating reverse transcriptase will halt this process, which is
essential for propagating HIV's lifecycle. This is an effective treatment against HIV!
True or False? The genetic material of (+)ssRNA viruses (such as coronavirus) is translated immediately
by host cell machinery as compared with DNA viruses and retroviruses.
True. The genetic material of (+)ssRNA viruses (such as coronavirus) is translated immediately by host
cell machinery as compared with DNA viruses and retroviruses.
THE MCAT SELF PREP ECOURSE: LESSON
1: AMINO ACIDS AND PROTEINS (PRO)
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 100% PASS
DNA copies itself through a process known as:
(A) Replication
(B) Translation
(C) Transcription
(D) Integration
(A) Replication
DNA copies itself through a process known as replication.
DNA is used as a template to generate RNA in a process known as:
(A) Replication
(B) Translation
(C) Transcription
(D) Integration
(C) Transcription
DNA is used as a template to generate RNA in a process known as transcription.
,Protein is generated using RNA as instructions in a process known as:
(A) Replication
(B) Translation
(C) Transcription
(D) Integration
(B) Translation
Protein is generated using RNA as instructions in a process known as translation.
Compare Polymers and Monomers.
Polymers are made up of individual sub-units called monomers.
True or False? DNA, RNA, and protein are all linear polymers.
True. The structure of DNA, RNA, and protein is similar in that they are all linear polymers because each
individual unit (or monomer) is attached to only one or two other units, resulting in a long chain.
What monomers make up DNA? RNA? Protein?
The monomers that make up DNA are known as deoxyribonucleotides.
The monomers that make up RNA are known as ribonucleotides.
The monomers that make up protein are known as amino acids.
,What benefits does the linear polymer structure of DNA, RNA, and protein provide during transcription
and translation?
The linear polymer structure of DNA, RNA, and protein helps to transfer and preserve the encoding of
information during transcription and translation.
What is the central dogma of molecular biology?
DNA makes RNA, which makes protein.
How can one easily differentiate transcription and translation using base words "script" and "translate"?
The word "script" refers to written forms. Transcription goes from one written form (DNA) to another
(RNA) using a common "alphabet" (aka nucleic acids).
Translation refers to the need to "translate" from one language to another. Here, nucleic acids from one
language (RNA) are translated into amino acids of another language (protein).
RNA is used as a template in the formation of cDNA through the process of:
(A) Reverse Replication
(B) Reverse Translation
(C) Reverse Transcription
(D) Reverse Integration
, (C) Reverse Transcription
What is the function of reverse transcriptase?
Reverse transcriptase is the enzyme that carries out reverse transcription, in which complementary DNA
(cDNA) is generated from an RNA template.
What is most likely to occur if a patient with HIV is administered a medicinal drug that deactivates the
enzyme reverse transcriptase?
(A) The patient will die.
(B) The patient's chances at survival will increase.
(C) The patient's chances at survival will decrease, but they will not die.
(D) The patient may go into a coma.
(B) The patient's chances at survival will increase.
Reverse transcriptase is used by HIV to reverse transcribe the retrovirus's RNA into DNA, which can then
be integrated into the host's DNA. Deactivating reverse transcriptase will halt this process, which is
essential for propagating HIV's lifecycle. This is an effective treatment against HIV!
True or False? The genetic material of (+)ssRNA viruses (such as coronavirus) is translated immediately
by host cell machinery as compared with DNA viruses and retroviruses.
True. The genetic material of (+)ssRNA viruses (such as coronavirus) is translated immediately by host
cell machinery as compared with DNA viruses and retroviruses.
