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GENETICS AND GENOMICS IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE,
2ND EDITION (BEERY) EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
GENETICS AND GENOMICS IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE, 2ND EDITION (BEERY)
EXAMINATION
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: DNA STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION (Questions 1-45)
Question 1
In which body or cell area are most genes in humans located?
A) Mitochondrion
B) Cytoplasm
C) Plasma membrane
D) Nucleus
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Most genes in humans are located in the nucleus of
the cell, where the genetic material is housed and regulated . The nucleus contains the
majority of the cell's DNA organized into chromosomes .
Question 2
Which of the following complementary base pairs form the strongest or "tightest"
association?
A) Adenine and thymine
B) Cytosine and guanine
C) Guanine and thymine
D) Cytosine and adenine
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Cytosine and guanine form three hydrogen bonds,
making their pair tighter and stronger, while adenine and thymine form only two
hydrogen bonds . This tighter association means CG base pairs require more energy to
separate.
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Question 3
What is the term used to define alternative forms of a gene that may result in
different expression of the trait coded for by that gene?
A) Bases
B) Centromeres
C) Diploids
D) Alleles
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Alleles are alternative forms of a gene that may
result in different expression of the trait coded for by that gene . They may be identical in
sequence but do not have to be .
Question 4
What is the term used to describe the organized picture of the paired
chromosomes within a cell used to determine whether chromosome numbers,
structures, and banding patterns are normal?
A) Pedigree
B) Phenotype
C) Karyotype
D) Autotype
Rationale: The correct answer is C. A karyotype is the organized picture of the paired
chromosomes within a cell used to determine whether chromosome numbers,
structures, and banding patterns are normal .
Question 5
What activity occurs during M phase of the cell cycle?
A) The cell undergoes cytokinesis.
B) Activity stops, and the cell "sleeps."
C) All DNA is completely replicated.
D) The cell greatly increases protein synthesis.
Rationale: The correct answer is A. During M phase of the cell cycle, the cell undergoes
cytokinesis, dividing its nucleus and separating duplicated chromosomes into two new
daughter cells . DNA replication occurs in S phase .
Question 6
What percentage of bases in a stretch of double-stranded DNA that contains 30%
guanine (G) bases would be adenine (A)?
A) 70%
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B) 60%
C) 30%
D) 20%
Rationale: The correct answer is D. In double-stranded DNA, if guanine is 30%, cytosine
is also 30% (total 60%), leaving 40% for adenine and thymine (20% each) .
Question 7
What is the purpose of phosphorus in a DNA strand?
A) Linking the nucleotides into a strand
B) Holding complementary strands together
C) Ensuring that a purine is always paired with a pyrimidine
D) Preventing the separation of double-stranded DNA into single-stranded DNA
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Phosphorus is part of the phosphate group that
links nucleotides together into a DNA strand through phosphodiester bonds .
Question 8
How does the proteome differ from the genome?
A) The proteome changes in response to intracellular and extracellular signals.
B) The genome changes in response to intracellular and extracellular signals.
C) The proteome is stable in somatic cells and unstable in germ cells, whereas the
genome is stable in both.
D) The genome is stable in somatic cells and unstable in germ cells.
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The proteome is dynamic and changes in response
to intracellular and extracellular signals, expressing different proteins at different times
in different cells . The genome remains relatively stable.
Question 9
What is the most outstanding feature of a mature haploid cell?
A) It is usually homozygous.
B) The sex chromosomes are missing.
C) Only one chromosome of each pair is present.
D) DNA synthesis occurs after mitosis instead of before.
Rationale: The correct answer is C. A haploid cell has a nucleus that contains only one
chromosome of each pair (one sex chromosome), containing half the genetic material
of a somatic cell .
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Question 10
What would be the sequence of DNA that is complementary to a DNA section with
the base sequence of GGTCAATCCTTAG?
A) GATTCCTAACTGG
B) TTGACCGAAGGCT
C) AACTGGCTTCCGA
D) CCAGTTAGGAATC
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Complementary base pairing: G pairs with C, C with
G, T with A, and A with T. GGTCAATCCTTAG's complement is CCAGTTAGGAATC .
Question 11
Which chromosome number represents the euploid state for normal human
somatic cells?
A) 44
B) 46
C) 47
D) 48
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The euploid state for normal human somatic cells is
46 chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomes plus 2 sex chromosomes) .
Question 12
What is the purpose of a chromosome centromere?
A) To prevent DNA strands from unraveling
B) To connect sister chromatids to form a chromosome
C) To allow proper segregation during cell division
D) To protect chromosome ends
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The centromere is the area of the chromosome that
connects the two halves (sister chromatids) together and allows for proper segregation
during cell division . It is the attachment point for spindle fibers during mitosis.
Question 13
What is the purpose of telomeric DNA?
A) To prevent DNA strands from unraveling
B) To connect sister chromatids
C) To allow proper segregation during cell division
D) To code for proteins
GENETICS AND GENOMICS IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE,
2ND EDITION (BEERY) EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
GENETICS AND GENOMICS IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE, 2ND EDITION (BEERY)
EXAMINATION
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: DNA STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION (Questions 1-45)
Question 1
In which body or cell area are most genes in humans located?
A) Mitochondrion
B) Cytoplasm
C) Plasma membrane
D) Nucleus
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Most genes in humans are located in the nucleus of
the cell, where the genetic material is housed and regulated . The nucleus contains the
majority of the cell's DNA organized into chromosomes .
Question 2
Which of the following complementary base pairs form the strongest or "tightest"
association?
A) Adenine and thymine
B) Cytosine and guanine
C) Guanine and thymine
D) Cytosine and adenine
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Cytosine and guanine form three hydrogen bonds,
making their pair tighter and stronger, while adenine and thymine form only two
hydrogen bonds . This tighter association means CG base pairs require more energy to
separate.
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Question 3
What is the term used to define alternative forms of a gene that may result in
different expression of the trait coded for by that gene?
A) Bases
B) Centromeres
C) Diploids
D) Alleles
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Alleles are alternative forms of a gene that may
result in different expression of the trait coded for by that gene . They may be identical in
sequence but do not have to be .
Question 4
What is the term used to describe the organized picture of the paired
chromosomes within a cell used to determine whether chromosome numbers,
structures, and banding patterns are normal?
A) Pedigree
B) Phenotype
C) Karyotype
D) Autotype
Rationale: The correct answer is C. A karyotype is the organized picture of the paired
chromosomes within a cell used to determine whether chromosome numbers,
structures, and banding patterns are normal .
Question 5
What activity occurs during M phase of the cell cycle?
A) The cell undergoes cytokinesis.
B) Activity stops, and the cell "sleeps."
C) All DNA is completely replicated.
D) The cell greatly increases protein synthesis.
Rationale: The correct answer is A. During M phase of the cell cycle, the cell undergoes
cytokinesis, dividing its nucleus and separating duplicated chromosomes into two new
daughter cells . DNA replication occurs in S phase .
Question 6
What percentage of bases in a stretch of double-stranded DNA that contains 30%
guanine (G) bases would be adenine (A)?
A) 70%
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B) 60%
C) 30%
D) 20%
Rationale: The correct answer is D. In double-stranded DNA, if guanine is 30%, cytosine
is also 30% (total 60%), leaving 40% for adenine and thymine (20% each) .
Question 7
What is the purpose of phosphorus in a DNA strand?
A) Linking the nucleotides into a strand
B) Holding complementary strands together
C) Ensuring that a purine is always paired with a pyrimidine
D) Preventing the separation of double-stranded DNA into single-stranded DNA
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Phosphorus is part of the phosphate group that
links nucleotides together into a DNA strand through phosphodiester bonds .
Question 8
How does the proteome differ from the genome?
A) The proteome changes in response to intracellular and extracellular signals.
B) The genome changes in response to intracellular and extracellular signals.
C) The proteome is stable in somatic cells and unstable in germ cells, whereas the
genome is stable in both.
D) The genome is stable in somatic cells and unstable in germ cells.
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The proteome is dynamic and changes in response
to intracellular and extracellular signals, expressing different proteins at different times
in different cells . The genome remains relatively stable.
Question 9
What is the most outstanding feature of a mature haploid cell?
A) It is usually homozygous.
B) The sex chromosomes are missing.
C) Only one chromosome of each pair is present.
D) DNA synthesis occurs after mitosis instead of before.
Rationale: The correct answer is C. A haploid cell has a nucleus that contains only one
chromosome of each pair (one sex chromosome), containing half the genetic material
of a somatic cell .
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Question 10
What would be the sequence of DNA that is complementary to a DNA section with
the base sequence of GGTCAATCCTTAG?
A) GATTCCTAACTGG
B) TTGACCGAAGGCT
C) AACTGGCTTCCGA
D) CCAGTTAGGAATC
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Complementary base pairing: G pairs with C, C with
G, T with A, and A with T. GGTCAATCCTTAG's complement is CCAGTTAGGAATC .
Question 11
Which chromosome number represents the euploid state for normal human
somatic cells?
A) 44
B) 46
C) 47
D) 48
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The euploid state for normal human somatic cells is
46 chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomes plus 2 sex chromosomes) .
Question 12
What is the purpose of a chromosome centromere?
A) To prevent DNA strands from unraveling
B) To connect sister chromatids to form a chromosome
C) To allow proper segregation during cell division
D) To protect chromosome ends
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The centromere is the area of the chromosome that
connects the two halves (sister chromatids) together and allows for proper segregation
during cell division . It is the attachment point for spindle fibers during mitosis.
Question 13
What is the purpose of telomeric DNA?
A) To prevent DNA strands from unraveling
B) To connect sister chromatids
C) To allow proper segregation during cell division
D) To code for proteins
