Test Bank for Karp’s Cell and Molecular Biology 10th
Edition Karp A+
,Chapter 1: Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
Q1. Which of the following best describes the central dogma of molecular
biology?
A. DNA → Protein → RNA
B. Protein → DNA → RNA
C. DNA → RNA → Protein
D. RNA → Protein → DNA
Answer: C. DNA → RNA → Protein
📖 Rationale: The central dogma describes information flow from DNA
transcription to RNA, then translation into protein.
Q2. Which of the following is NOT considered a eukaryotic organism?
A. Yeast
B. Amoeba
C. Bacterium
D. Plant cell
Answer: C. Bacterium
📖 Rationale: Bacteria are prokaryotes and lack membrane-bound organelles.
Q3. Who is credited with coining the term “cell” after observing cork under a
microscope?
A. Anton van Leeuwenhoek
B. Charles Darwin
C. Robert Hooke
D. Louis Pasteur
Answer: C. Robert Hooke
📖 Rationale: Hooke described small compartments in cork as “cells” in 1665.
Q4. Which of the following is unique to prokaryotic cells?
A. Mitochondria
B. Membrane-bound nucleus
,C. Ribosomes
D. Plasmids
Answer: D. Plasmids
📖 Rationale: Plasmids are small circular DNA molecules common in bacteria, not
eukaryotes.
Q5. The endosymbiotic theory explains the origin of which organelles?
A. Nucleus and Golgi apparatus
B. Chloroplast and mitochondria
C. Ribosomes and lysosomes
D. ER and peroxisomes
Answer: B. Chloroplast and mitochondria
📖 Rationale: These organelles originated from engulfed prokaryotes that became
symbiotic.
Q6. Which microscopy technique provides the highest resolution for cell structure?
A. Bright-field microscopy
B. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
C. Phase-contrast microscopy
D. Scanning light microscopy
Answer: B. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
📖 Rationale: TEM provides nanometer-level detail of cell ultrastructure.
Q7. The smallest unit of life is the:
A. Atom
B. Organelle
C. Cell
D. Tissue
Answer: C. Cell
📖 Rationale: Cells are the basic structural and functional unit of life.
, Q8. Viruses are not considered living because:
A. They contain proteins
B. They replicate independently
C. They require host machinery for replication
D. They contain nucleic acids
Answer: C. They require host machinery for replication
📖 Rationale: Viruses lack independent metabolic and reproductive ability.
Q9. Which cell type is typically used as a model organism for genetic studies?
A. Human neuron
B. E. coli
C. Paramecium
D. Muscle cell
Answer: B. E. coli
📖 Rationale: E. coli is simple, grows quickly, and is genetically well
characterized.
Q10. In the cell theory, which principle is emphasized?
A. Cells arise spontaneously
B. All living things are composed of cells
C. All cells are multicellular
D. Cells are only structural, not functional
Answer: B. All living things are composed of cells
📖 Rationale: Cell theory states that cells are the basic unit of structure and
function, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.
Q11. A researcher using GFP-tagged proteins is most likely studying:
A. DNA replication
B. Protein localization in living cells
C. Enzyme kinetics in vitro
D. Atomic structure
Edition Karp A+
,Chapter 1: Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
Q1. Which of the following best describes the central dogma of molecular
biology?
A. DNA → Protein → RNA
B. Protein → DNA → RNA
C. DNA → RNA → Protein
D. RNA → Protein → DNA
Answer: C. DNA → RNA → Protein
📖 Rationale: The central dogma describes information flow from DNA
transcription to RNA, then translation into protein.
Q2. Which of the following is NOT considered a eukaryotic organism?
A. Yeast
B. Amoeba
C. Bacterium
D. Plant cell
Answer: C. Bacterium
📖 Rationale: Bacteria are prokaryotes and lack membrane-bound organelles.
Q3. Who is credited with coining the term “cell” after observing cork under a
microscope?
A. Anton van Leeuwenhoek
B. Charles Darwin
C. Robert Hooke
D. Louis Pasteur
Answer: C. Robert Hooke
📖 Rationale: Hooke described small compartments in cork as “cells” in 1665.
Q4. Which of the following is unique to prokaryotic cells?
A. Mitochondria
B. Membrane-bound nucleus
,C. Ribosomes
D. Plasmids
Answer: D. Plasmids
📖 Rationale: Plasmids are small circular DNA molecules common in bacteria, not
eukaryotes.
Q5. The endosymbiotic theory explains the origin of which organelles?
A. Nucleus and Golgi apparatus
B. Chloroplast and mitochondria
C. Ribosomes and lysosomes
D. ER and peroxisomes
Answer: B. Chloroplast and mitochondria
📖 Rationale: These organelles originated from engulfed prokaryotes that became
symbiotic.
Q6. Which microscopy technique provides the highest resolution for cell structure?
A. Bright-field microscopy
B. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
C. Phase-contrast microscopy
D. Scanning light microscopy
Answer: B. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
📖 Rationale: TEM provides nanometer-level detail of cell ultrastructure.
Q7. The smallest unit of life is the:
A. Atom
B. Organelle
C. Cell
D. Tissue
Answer: C. Cell
📖 Rationale: Cells are the basic structural and functional unit of life.
, Q8. Viruses are not considered living because:
A. They contain proteins
B. They replicate independently
C. They require host machinery for replication
D. They contain nucleic acids
Answer: C. They require host machinery for replication
📖 Rationale: Viruses lack independent metabolic and reproductive ability.
Q9. Which cell type is typically used as a model organism for genetic studies?
A. Human neuron
B. E. coli
C. Paramecium
D. Muscle cell
Answer: B. E. coli
📖 Rationale: E. coli is simple, grows quickly, and is genetically well
characterized.
Q10. In the cell theory, which principle is emphasized?
A. Cells arise spontaneously
B. All living things are composed of cells
C. All cells are multicellular
D. Cells are only structural, not functional
Answer: B. All living things are composed of cells
📖 Rationale: Cell theory states that cells are the basic unit of structure and
function, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.
Q11. A researcher using GFP-tagged proteins is most likely studying:
A. DNA replication
B. Protein localization in living cells
C. Enzyme kinetics in vitro
D. Atomic structure
