MCQ on Genetic Material Pdf

MCQ on Genetic Material Pdf: About 98% of the DNA in the cell is distributed on the chromosomes in the nucleus, so the main carrier of the genetic material is the chromosome.  In addition, mitochondria in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts also contain genetic material, so they are also carriers of genetic material.

In 1928, British scientist Griffiths used two strains of pneumococcus, namely capsule (virulent, S type) and non-encapsulated (non-toxic, R type), to carry out transformation experiments in mice. It is proved that the capsule of pneumococcus is controlled by DNA. In 1952, American scientists Hershey and Chase made the famous experiment of phage infecting bacteria to prove DNA as genetic material.

Scientists have analyzed and concluded that as genetic material, it must have the following characteristics: The molecular structure has relative stability; It can self-replicate; It can guide the synthesis of proteins; It can produce a heritable variation.

MCQ on Genetic Material Pdf

1. The genetic material of an organism is________
A. Nucleic acid
B. Protein
C. DNA
D. RNA
Answer: C
Explanation: DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material in most organisms, carrying hereditary information.

2. The genetic material of viruses is_________
A. DNA
B. DNA or RNA
C. RNA
D. None of these
Answer: B
Explanation: Viruses may have either DNA or RNA as genetic material, not both. For example, retroviruses contain RNA.

3. What stores the genetic information in DNA?
A. Sugar
B. Phosphate
C. Nitrogenous base
D. Polymerase
Answer: C
Explanation: The sequence of nitrogenous bases (A, T, C, G) encodes genetic instructions in DNA.

4. Building blocks of nucleic acids are ____________
A. Nucleotides
B. Nucleosides
C. Amino acids
D. Histones
Answer: A
Explanation: Nucleotides, composed of a sugar, phosphate, and base, are the monomers of DNA and RNA.

5. The RNA→RNA pathway of genetic information is complementary to the central dogma, and the following organisms capable of this transfer are______
A. Tobacco
B. Tobacco mosaic virus
C. Bacteriophage
D. Escherichia coli
Answer: B
Explanation: The tobacco mosaic virus has RNA as genetic material and can replicate RNA from RNA, contrary to the central dogma.

6. Allele is located at_______
A. DNA on both strands
B. On two sister chromatids
C. On two non-homologous chromosomes
D. On the tetrad
Answer: D
Explanation: Alleles are found on homologous chromosomes, which align during meiosis as tetrads.

7. Definite results proving DNA to be genetic material were given by __________
A. Fredrick Griffith
B. Hershey and Chase
C. Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty
D. Meselson and Stahl
Answer: C
Explanation: Avery and colleagues showed that DNA was responsible for transforming non-virulent bacteria into virulent strains.

8. The transformation experiment of Streptococcus pneumoniae can prove that________
A. DNA is the genetic material
B. DNA controls protein synthesis
C. Proteins are not genetic material
D. All of these
Answer: D
Explanation: Griffith’s and Avery’s experiments collectively demonstrated all these aspects, supporting DNA’s role as genetic material.

9. Experiments with phages infecting bacteria have shown_______
A. Protein is hereditary
B. DNA is the genetic material
C. DNA is the main genetic material
D. Protein and DNA are genetic material
Answer: B
Explanation: Hershey and Chase proved that DNA, not protein, entered bacterial cells during phage infection.

10. Which of the following statements about nucleic acids is correct?
A. The five-carbon sugars in DNA and RNA are the same
B. The elements that make up DNA and ATP are of the same type
C. The genetic information of the T2 phage is stored in RNA
D. The number of purines in a single-stranded DNA molecule equals the number of pyrimidines
Answer: B
Explanation: Both DNA and ATP are composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

11. Fredrick Griffith’s experiment involving Streptococcus pneumoniae led to the discovery of____________
A. DNA as genetic material
B. RNA as genetic material
C. Protein as genetic material
D. Transforming principle
Answer: D
Explanation: Griffith discovered that something (transforming principle) could genetically alter bacteria, later identified as DNA.

12. In addition to proving DNA is the genetic material, the experiment of phage infecting bacteria also proved that______
A. DNA can produce heritable variation
B. DNA controls protein synthesis
C. The carrier of the DNA molecule is the chromosome
D. DNA molecular structure is a double helix
Answer: B
Explanation: DNA was shown to control traits of bacteria after viral infection, indirectly supporting protein synthesis control.

13. DNA is the main genetic material because________
A. The main carrier of genetic material is the chromosome
B. The genetic material of most organisms is DNA
C. Most DNA in cells is on chromosomes
D. Chromosomes play an important role in genetics
Answer: B
Explanation: In all organisms except some viruses, DNA is the genetic material.

14. The following characteristics that are not necessary for genetic material are________
A. It has a double helix structure
B. The molecular structure is relatively stable
C. Capable of self-replication
D. Can store a lot of information
Answer: A
Explanation: Although DNA has a double helix, a helical structure is not a requirement for a molecule to act as genetic material (e.g., some viruses use single-stranded RNA).

15. Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotide monomeric units. Each nucleotide consists of_______
A. Base­-sugar-­OH
B. Sugar-­phosphate
C. Base­-sugar-­phosphate
D. Base­-sugar
Answer: C
Explanation: A nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), and a phosphate group.

16. Which of the following are not the components of RNA?
A. Thymine
B. Adenine
C. Guanine
D. Cytosine
Answer: A
Explanation: RNA contains uracil instead of thymine.

17. Hershey proved that DNA is the genetic material through the experiment of T2 phage infecting bacteria. The correct sequence of the experiment steps is
A. ①②④③
B. ④②①③
C. ②①④③
D. ②①③④
Answer: C
Explanation: Step 2 (label phages), then infect bacteria (1), separate virus and bacteria (4), and detect radioactivity (3).

18. The general characteristics of genetic material are________
A. The molecular structure is relatively stable
B. Capable of self-replication
C. Can store a lot of information
D. All of these
Answer: D
Explanation: These properties ensure the proper transmission of genetic traits.

19. How is the genetic material expressed?
A. By replication and transcription
B. By transcription and translation
C. By translation and modification
D. By mutation and transposition
Answer: B
Explanation: Genetic information flows from DNA to RNA (transcription) and then to protein (translation).

20. In the transformation experiment of pneumococcus, the transformation factor converting R-type to S-type bacteria is_______
A. Capsule
B. Protein
C. R-type RNA
D. S-shaped DNA
Answer: D
Explanation: DNA from the S-type bacteria transformed the R-type into virulent forms.

21. Who proved that DNA was indeed the genetic material through experiments?
A. Alfred Hershey and Maclyn McCarty
B. Oswald Avery and Maclyn McCarty
C. Oswald Avery and Martha Chase
D. Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase
Answer: D
Explanation: Hershey and Chase used radioactive labeling to confirm that DNA, not protein, is inherited by bacterial cells.

22. The work of Hershey and Chase shows that________
A. Viruses have DNA but no protein
B. Bacteria have DNA but no protein
C. Genetic material includes DNA and proteins
D. Genetic material is DNA
Answer: D
Explanation: Their experiment conclusively showed that DNA is the substance that carries genetic information in viruses.

Single Line Question and Answers on Genetic Material