Molecular Genetics Exam Questions with Correct
Answers
1. what is DNA and how does it contain the secret of life? correct answers:
DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid
-it contains the genetic info which makes up the blueprint of living organisms
2. what were the names of the teams that were racing to uncover
the structure of genetic material? correct answers: Watson & Crick
Wilkins & Franklin
Pauling
3. what did Watson and Crick do? correct answers: built the first model of DNA
4. what did Wilkins and Franklin do? correct answers: used x ray crystallography to take
pictures of DNA
5. Pauling correct answers: - studied various molecules
-attempted to build a model of DNA
6. describe the characteristics of James Watson and Francis Crick
which made others think they wouldn't succeed? correct answers: -
Watson was American
-Crick was a British scientist without a PhD (higher degree)
-both were considered arrogant and lazy jokers
7. what was "Black Monday" and how did it affect the direction
of Maurice Wilkin's career correct answers: - Black Monday was the bombing of
Hiroshima which Wilkins helped to create
-the bombing made him want to study the science of life, instead of the science of death
8. what did scientists think were the carriers of genetic information?
correct answers: proteins
-now we know DNA is the molecule which carries the instructions for life
9. summarize the process of x ray diffraction/crystallography correct
answers: - process takes a picture of the "shadow" the molecule creates
-like trying to figure out the structure of a chandelier by looking at the image of light produced on a wall
10. Rosalind Franklin outright laughed at Watson and Crick's
first attempt at building a model of DNA in 1951. What was she so
unimpressed with their work? correct answers: - it was wrong
1/
13
, -they had it inside out and didn't have the water molecules represented correctly
11. Rosalind Franklin is often known as the "Dark lady of DNA" and
the untold heroine of this story. Explain what is meant by that
statement correct answers: - she the "Dark Lady" because she was cold towards
her male colleagues
-she is the untold heroine because she was never fully respected and/or appreciated for her important
work towards discovering the structure of DNA
2/
13
Answers
1. what is DNA and how does it contain the secret of life? correct answers:
DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid
-it contains the genetic info which makes up the blueprint of living organisms
2. what were the names of the teams that were racing to uncover
the structure of genetic material? correct answers: Watson & Crick
Wilkins & Franklin
Pauling
3. what did Watson and Crick do? correct answers: built the first model of DNA
4. what did Wilkins and Franklin do? correct answers: used x ray crystallography to take
pictures of DNA
5. Pauling correct answers: - studied various molecules
-attempted to build a model of DNA
6. describe the characteristics of James Watson and Francis Crick
which made others think they wouldn't succeed? correct answers: -
Watson was American
-Crick was a British scientist without a PhD (higher degree)
-both were considered arrogant and lazy jokers
7. what was "Black Monday" and how did it affect the direction
of Maurice Wilkin's career correct answers: - Black Monday was the bombing of
Hiroshima which Wilkins helped to create
-the bombing made him want to study the science of life, instead of the science of death
8. what did scientists think were the carriers of genetic information?
correct answers: proteins
-now we know DNA is the molecule which carries the instructions for life
9. summarize the process of x ray diffraction/crystallography correct
answers: - process takes a picture of the "shadow" the molecule creates
-like trying to figure out the structure of a chandelier by looking at the image of light produced on a wall
10. Rosalind Franklin outright laughed at Watson and Crick's
first attempt at building a model of DNA in 1951. What was she so
unimpressed with their work? correct answers: - it was wrong
1/
13
, -they had it inside out and didn't have the water molecules represented correctly
11. Rosalind Franklin is often known as the "Dark lady of DNA" and
the untold heroine of this story. Explain what is meant by that
statement correct answers: - she the "Dark Lady" because she was cold towards
her male colleagues
-she is the untold heroine because she was never fully respected and/or appreciated for her important
work towards discovering the structure of DNA
2/
13
