BRIGHTSTARS EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/15/2024 2:05 PM
Molecular and Cellular Biology Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
In water, MgCl2 dissociates into Mg2+ and Cl-. Based on this information, which bond is
involved in the formation of MgCl2?
A. hydrogen
B. ionic
C. polar covalent
D. nonpolar covalent
E. electrostatic - answer✔✔B. ionic
In the process of biological evolution, new species may evolve through genes from one species
to another. This process is called ______.
A. proteome transfer
B. horizontal gene transfer
C. vertical evolution
D. vertical descent with mutation
E. genomic sciences - answer✔✔B. horizontal gene transfer
The grouping or classification of species is termed _____.
A. genus
B. kingdom
C. taxonomy - answer✔✔C. taxonomy
If orange juice has a pH of 4 then it can be described as
A. having a H+ concentration of 4
B. an acidic solution
C. an alkaline solution
,BRIGHTSTARS EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/15/2024 2:05 PM
D. an acidic solution with a H+ concentration of 4
E. none of these choices are correct - answer✔✔B. an acidic solution
The sequence of amino acids in a protein is its ______ structure.
A. primary
B. secondary
C. tertiary
D. quaternary
E. hepternary - answer✔✔A. primary
A plant will begin flowering in response to changes in length of daylight, temperature, and light
quality. This is an example of which unifying principle of life?
A. plants conduct photosynthesis
B. living organisms maintain homeostasis
C. living organisms interact with their environment
D. living organisms grow and develop
E. populations of organisms evolve from one generation to the next - answer✔✔C. living
organisms interact with their environment
When one atom loses an electron to another atom, it results in the formation of
A. a polar covalent bond and a new molecule
B. cations and anions that can form ionic bonds
C. a covalent bond between the two
D. many hydrogen bonds
E. a nonpolar covalent bond that is difficult to break - answer✔✔B. cations and anions that can
form ionic bonds
Which level of organization includes all of the others in the list?
A. cell
B. tissue
C. organ
D. organism
E. population - answer✔✔E. population
,BRIGHTSTARS EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/15/2024 2:05 PM
What structure best represents a polymer?
A. a fatty acid
B. a monosaccharide
C. a nucleotide
D. an amino acid
E. a protein - answer✔✔E. a protein
When placed in an aqueous solution, amphipathic molecules will orient with
A. hydrophilic hydrocarbon chains pointing toward each other and away from water
B. hydrophilic head groups pointing away from each other and towards to water
C. hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains pointing toward each other and away from water
D. hydrophilic hydrocarbon chains in the middle and hydrophobic head groups toward water
E. hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains in the middle and hydrophilic head groups toward the water
- answer✔✔E. hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains in the middle and hydrophilic head groups
toward the water
A researcher decides to test the scientific validity of the common phrase "An apple a day keeps
the doctor away". What would be a valid hypothesis to investigate this question?
A. Does one apple every day keep doctor visitation rates to a minimum?
B. The daily consumption of a single apple does not change the number of visits to the doctor.
C. Eating one apple every day is good for you.
D. Apples are high in vitamin C.
E. Those who consume apples are more healthy than those who do not. - answer✔✔B. The daily
consumption of a single apple does not change the number of visits to the doctor.
A protein's ______ structure contains helixes and sheets that result from hydrogen bonding
between carboxyl and amino groups of the polypeptide chain.
A. primary
B. secondary
C. tertiary
D. quaternary
E. both secondary and quaternary - answer✔✔B. secondary
What makes phospholipids good at forming cellular membranes?
, BRIGHTSTARS EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/15/2024 2:05 PM
A. Regions of aliphatic and hydrophilic atoms atoms causing and internalization of
phospholipids making a bilayer.
B. The polar and non-polar regions create an amphipathic bilayer of phospholipids.
C. Covalent and ionic bonds between glycerols create a tight seal around the cell.
D. The three saturated fatty tails in phospholipids create a semi solid like structure that maintains
a cell's shape. - answer✔✔B. The polar and non-polar regions create an amphipathic bilayer of
phospholipids.
An explanation for a biological process that is substantiated by a large amount of evidence is
called a ______.
A. hypothesis
B. theory
C. systems biology
D. reductionism
E. prediction - answer✔✔B. theory
Carbon has 4 electrons and hydrogen has 1 electron in its outermost ring. A carbon atom can
form covalent bonds with how many hydrogen atoms?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. 4 - answer✔✔E. 4
The formation of complex molecules that form life is made possible by what understanding
regarding carbon?
A. Carbon forms a maximum of 8 covalent bonds.
B. Carbon can form a maximum of 6 covalent bonds.
C. Carbon forms up to 4 covalent bonds.
D. Carbon forms 2 covalent bonds.
E. Carbon forms anions and cations. - answer✔✔C. Carbon forms up to 4 covalent bonds.
The portion of an amino acid that makes the amino acid unique among the 20 different amino
acids is
Molecular and Cellular Biology Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
In water, MgCl2 dissociates into Mg2+ and Cl-. Based on this information, which bond is
involved in the formation of MgCl2?
A. hydrogen
B. ionic
C. polar covalent
D. nonpolar covalent
E. electrostatic - answer✔✔B. ionic
In the process of biological evolution, new species may evolve through genes from one species
to another. This process is called ______.
A. proteome transfer
B. horizontal gene transfer
C. vertical evolution
D. vertical descent with mutation
E. genomic sciences - answer✔✔B. horizontal gene transfer
The grouping or classification of species is termed _____.
A. genus
B. kingdom
C. taxonomy - answer✔✔C. taxonomy
If orange juice has a pH of 4 then it can be described as
A. having a H+ concentration of 4
B. an acidic solution
C. an alkaline solution
,BRIGHTSTARS EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/15/2024 2:05 PM
D. an acidic solution with a H+ concentration of 4
E. none of these choices are correct - answer✔✔B. an acidic solution
The sequence of amino acids in a protein is its ______ structure.
A. primary
B. secondary
C. tertiary
D. quaternary
E. hepternary - answer✔✔A. primary
A plant will begin flowering in response to changes in length of daylight, temperature, and light
quality. This is an example of which unifying principle of life?
A. plants conduct photosynthesis
B. living organisms maintain homeostasis
C. living organisms interact with their environment
D. living organisms grow and develop
E. populations of organisms evolve from one generation to the next - answer✔✔C. living
organisms interact with their environment
When one atom loses an electron to another atom, it results in the formation of
A. a polar covalent bond and a new molecule
B. cations and anions that can form ionic bonds
C. a covalent bond between the two
D. many hydrogen bonds
E. a nonpolar covalent bond that is difficult to break - answer✔✔B. cations and anions that can
form ionic bonds
Which level of organization includes all of the others in the list?
A. cell
B. tissue
C. organ
D. organism
E. population - answer✔✔E. population
,BRIGHTSTARS EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/15/2024 2:05 PM
What structure best represents a polymer?
A. a fatty acid
B. a monosaccharide
C. a nucleotide
D. an amino acid
E. a protein - answer✔✔E. a protein
When placed in an aqueous solution, amphipathic molecules will orient with
A. hydrophilic hydrocarbon chains pointing toward each other and away from water
B. hydrophilic head groups pointing away from each other and towards to water
C. hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains pointing toward each other and away from water
D. hydrophilic hydrocarbon chains in the middle and hydrophobic head groups toward water
E. hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains in the middle and hydrophilic head groups toward the water
- answer✔✔E. hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains in the middle and hydrophilic head groups
toward the water
A researcher decides to test the scientific validity of the common phrase "An apple a day keeps
the doctor away". What would be a valid hypothesis to investigate this question?
A. Does one apple every day keep doctor visitation rates to a minimum?
B. The daily consumption of a single apple does not change the number of visits to the doctor.
C. Eating one apple every day is good for you.
D. Apples are high in vitamin C.
E. Those who consume apples are more healthy than those who do not. - answer✔✔B. The daily
consumption of a single apple does not change the number of visits to the doctor.
A protein's ______ structure contains helixes and sheets that result from hydrogen bonding
between carboxyl and amino groups of the polypeptide chain.
A. primary
B. secondary
C. tertiary
D. quaternary
E. both secondary and quaternary - answer✔✔B. secondary
What makes phospholipids good at forming cellular membranes?
, BRIGHTSTARS EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/15/2024 2:05 PM
A. Regions of aliphatic and hydrophilic atoms atoms causing and internalization of
phospholipids making a bilayer.
B. The polar and non-polar regions create an amphipathic bilayer of phospholipids.
C. Covalent and ionic bonds between glycerols create a tight seal around the cell.
D. The three saturated fatty tails in phospholipids create a semi solid like structure that maintains
a cell's shape. - answer✔✔B. The polar and non-polar regions create an amphipathic bilayer of
phospholipids.
An explanation for a biological process that is substantiated by a large amount of evidence is
called a ______.
A. hypothesis
B. theory
C. systems biology
D. reductionism
E. prediction - answer✔✔B. theory
Carbon has 4 electrons and hydrogen has 1 electron in its outermost ring. A carbon atom can
form covalent bonds with how many hydrogen atoms?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. 4 - answer✔✔E. 4
The formation of complex molecules that form life is made possible by what understanding
regarding carbon?
A. Carbon forms a maximum of 8 covalent bonds.
B. Carbon can form a maximum of 6 covalent bonds.
C. Carbon forms up to 4 covalent bonds.
D. Carbon forms 2 covalent bonds.
E. Carbon forms anions and cations. - answer✔✔C. Carbon forms up to 4 covalent bonds.
The portion of an amino acid that makes the amino acid unique among the 20 different amino
acids is
