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WGU C785 Biochemistry Test Bank | Latest
2026/2027 Verified Q&A based on Biochemistry: A
Short Course, 4th Ed.
Central dogma of molecular biology - ANSWER-DNA -> RNA ->
Protein
a portion of the DNA, a gene, is transcribed to produce a complementary
strand of RNA; then the RNA is translated into protein .
-The understanding that DNA is used to make RNA and RNA is used to
make protein
Polymer - ANSWER-A long molecule consisting of many similar or
identical monomers linked together.
ex nucleic acids (dna rna)
Nucleotides
KEY CONCEPTS - ANSWER--Nucleic acids are polymers of
nucleotides.
A nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and one or
more phosphate groups.
-DNA contains adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine
deoxyribonucleotides, whereas RNA contains adenine, guanine,
cytosine, and uracil ribonucleotides.
-DNA is double-stranded and forms a double helix structure that allows
for information storage.
Prior to dividing , a cell copies all of its DNA using -DNA replication to
ensure all new cells have the DNA they need.
-DNA Replication involves the formation of a replication fork, addition
of RNA primers to create a "handle" for DNA polymerase, synthesis of
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the new DNA strand by DNA polymerase, and sealing the DNA
backbone by DNA ligase.
-RNA is single-stranded and is grouped into three types of RNA:
messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and transfer RNA
(tRNA). All three types of RNA play an important role in the central
dogma.
two types of nucleic acids - ANSWER-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
and ribonucleic acid (RNA)
DNA and RNA are - ANSWER-nucleic acids and polymers, which
means they are made up of many smaller units (monomers) connected
together, much like a string of pearls.
The monomers of nucleic acids are known as nucleotides. Each
nucleotide includes a nitrogen-containing base, a five-carbon sugar or
pentose (pente means "five" in Greek), and one or more phosphates.
The monomers of nucleic acids(DNA and RNA) are known as -
ANSWER-nucleotides =
cytosine, guanine, thymine, adenine (DNA)
(RNA)
cytosine, guanine, adenine, uracil
DNA - ANSWER--nucleic acid
-polymer
-made up of phosphate, deoxyribose sugar and purine base
-purine base of DNA= adenine,guanine, cytosine, thymine
RNA - ANSWER--nucleic acid
-polymer
-made up of phosphate, ribose sugar and purine base
-purine base of RNA= adenine,guanine, cytosine, uracil
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single stranded
The DNA the double helix is made up of - ANSWER-a two strand
which isantiparallel, which means they have opposite 5' and 3'
orientations, similar to a two-way street in which traffic is oriented in
opposite directions.
DNA replication - ANSWER-is semi conservated
DNA replication steps - ANSWER--First, the DNA must be separated.
This creates a replication "fork" where the two original strands separate.
-Next, the new DNA is synthesized by a protein known as DNA
polymerase (its name comes from its function - it makes a polymer of
DNA nucleotides).
-DNA polymerase takes individual nucleotides and matches them up to
the parental sequence to ensure they are a correct pair. If the pairing is
correct, DNA polymerase bonds the nucleotide to the growing strand of
DNA.
-uses RNA primers. The addition of a primer to the single-stranded
DNA creates a double-stranded nucleic acid "handle" to which DNA
polymerase can attach and start making DNA
-RNA primers (to allow DNA polymerase to bind), new strand synthesis
by DNA polymerase, RNA primer removal by RNAase H, and sealing
of the backbone "nicks" by DNA ligase.
DNA polymerase has one problem - it can't start a new DNA strand
because it only binds to double-stranded nucleic acids. How does the
cell get around this? - ANSWER-uses RNA primers. The addition of a
primer to the single-stranded DNA creates a double-stranded nucleic
acid "handle" to which DNA polymerase can attach and start making
DNA
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DNA polymerase - ANSWER-has proofreading activity
Transcription - ANSWER-~ synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA
template
~ Takes place in the nucleus
Transcription - ANSWER-When information in a particular section of
DNA is needed, the cell makes an RNA copy of that DNA section and
that carries the information out of the nucleus to the rest of the cell.
Promoter - ANSWER-The initiation of RNA synthesis requires a
specific DNA sequence at a site known as a promoter. The promoter is
located just upstream of a gene and is the binding site for transcription
factors that recruit the RNA polymerase
transcription steps - ANSWER-= promoter(by start site)--->RNA
polymerase recuitment---->RNA polymerase separates
strand(TRANSCRIPTION BUBBLE)--->RNA synthesis by RNA
polymerase matching right nucleotides---->RNA released
-The initiation of RNA synthesis requires a specific DNA sequence at a
site known as a promoter.
(start site)
-The DNA sequence at the promoter is recognized by specific proteins
called transcription factors, which recruit RNA polymerase to the
transcription start site.
- RNA polymerase separates the two DNA strands in a small portion of
the DNA molecule to form a TRANSCRIPTION BUBBLE, thus
allowing it to access the template strand and begin RNA synthesis.
WGU C785 Biochemistry Test Bank | Latest
2026/2027 Verified Q&A based on Biochemistry: A
Short Course, 4th Ed.
Central dogma of molecular biology - ANSWER-DNA -> RNA ->
Protein
a portion of the DNA, a gene, is transcribed to produce a complementary
strand of RNA; then the RNA is translated into protein .
-The understanding that DNA is used to make RNA and RNA is used to
make protein
Polymer - ANSWER-A long molecule consisting of many similar or
identical monomers linked together.
ex nucleic acids (dna rna)
Nucleotides
KEY CONCEPTS - ANSWER--Nucleic acids are polymers of
nucleotides.
A nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and one or
more phosphate groups.
-DNA contains adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine
deoxyribonucleotides, whereas RNA contains adenine, guanine,
cytosine, and uracil ribonucleotides.
-DNA is double-stranded and forms a double helix structure that allows
for information storage.
Prior to dividing , a cell copies all of its DNA using -DNA replication to
ensure all new cells have the DNA they need.
-DNA Replication involves the formation of a replication fork, addition
of RNA primers to create a "handle" for DNA polymerase, synthesis of
,2|Page
the new DNA strand by DNA polymerase, and sealing the DNA
backbone by DNA ligase.
-RNA is single-stranded and is grouped into three types of RNA:
messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and transfer RNA
(tRNA). All three types of RNA play an important role in the central
dogma.
two types of nucleic acids - ANSWER-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
and ribonucleic acid (RNA)
DNA and RNA are - ANSWER-nucleic acids and polymers, which
means they are made up of many smaller units (monomers) connected
together, much like a string of pearls.
The monomers of nucleic acids are known as nucleotides. Each
nucleotide includes a nitrogen-containing base, a five-carbon sugar or
pentose (pente means "five" in Greek), and one or more phosphates.
The monomers of nucleic acids(DNA and RNA) are known as -
ANSWER-nucleotides =
cytosine, guanine, thymine, adenine (DNA)
(RNA)
cytosine, guanine, adenine, uracil
DNA - ANSWER--nucleic acid
-polymer
-made up of phosphate, deoxyribose sugar and purine base
-purine base of DNA= adenine,guanine, cytosine, thymine
RNA - ANSWER--nucleic acid
-polymer
-made up of phosphate, ribose sugar and purine base
-purine base of RNA= adenine,guanine, cytosine, uracil
,3|Page
single stranded
The DNA the double helix is made up of - ANSWER-a two strand
which isantiparallel, which means they have opposite 5' and 3'
orientations, similar to a two-way street in which traffic is oriented in
opposite directions.
DNA replication - ANSWER-is semi conservated
DNA replication steps - ANSWER--First, the DNA must be separated.
This creates a replication "fork" where the two original strands separate.
-Next, the new DNA is synthesized by a protein known as DNA
polymerase (its name comes from its function - it makes a polymer of
DNA nucleotides).
-DNA polymerase takes individual nucleotides and matches them up to
the parental sequence to ensure they are a correct pair. If the pairing is
correct, DNA polymerase bonds the nucleotide to the growing strand of
DNA.
-uses RNA primers. The addition of a primer to the single-stranded
DNA creates a double-stranded nucleic acid "handle" to which DNA
polymerase can attach and start making DNA
-RNA primers (to allow DNA polymerase to bind), new strand synthesis
by DNA polymerase, RNA primer removal by RNAase H, and sealing
of the backbone "nicks" by DNA ligase.
DNA polymerase has one problem - it can't start a new DNA strand
because it only binds to double-stranded nucleic acids. How does the
cell get around this? - ANSWER-uses RNA primers. The addition of a
primer to the single-stranded DNA creates a double-stranded nucleic
acid "handle" to which DNA polymerase can attach and start making
DNA
, 4|Page
DNA polymerase - ANSWER-has proofreading activity
Transcription - ANSWER-~ synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA
template
~ Takes place in the nucleus
Transcription - ANSWER-When information in a particular section of
DNA is needed, the cell makes an RNA copy of that DNA section and
that carries the information out of the nucleus to the rest of the cell.
Promoter - ANSWER-The initiation of RNA synthesis requires a
specific DNA sequence at a site known as a promoter. The promoter is
located just upstream of a gene and is the binding site for transcription
factors that recruit the RNA polymerase
transcription steps - ANSWER-= promoter(by start site)--->RNA
polymerase recuitment---->RNA polymerase separates
strand(TRANSCRIPTION BUBBLE)--->RNA synthesis by RNA
polymerase matching right nucleotides---->RNA released
-The initiation of RNA synthesis requires a specific DNA sequence at a
site known as a promoter.
(start site)
-The DNA sequence at the promoter is recognized by specific proteins
called transcription factors, which recruit RNA polymerase to the
transcription start site.
- RNA polymerase separates the two DNA strands in a small portion of
the DNA molecule to form a TRANSCRIPTION BUBBLE, thus
allowing it to access the template strand and begin RNA synthesis.
