MUTATIONS TAKS QUESTIONS

SPRING 2003 – 10:

(22) The diagram represents the chromosomes of a person with a genetic disorder caused by nondisjunction, in which the chromosomes fail to separate properly. Which chromosome set displays nondisjunction?

F 2

G 8

H* 21

J 23

SPRING 2003 – 10:

(26) The chain above represents three codons. Which of the following changes would be expected in the amino acid chain if the mutation shown above occurred?

F The amino acid sequence would be shorter than expected.

G* The identity of one amino acid would change.

H The amino acid sequence would remain unchanged.

J The identities of more than one amino acid would change.

APRIL 2004 – 10:

(26) Ultraviolet radiation can cause mutations in the DNA of skin cells that have been overexposed to the sun. This mutated DNA has no effect on future offspring because —

F changes in skin cell DNA are homozygous recessive

G mutations must occur within the RNA codons

H offspring reject parental skin cells

J* only changes to gamete DNA can be inherited

APRIL 2004 – 11:

(22) Mutations in DNA molecules can occur when —

F replication of DNA is exact

G a DNA enzyme attaches to an RNA codon

H RNA codons are replaced by DNA nucleotides

J* a change occurs in DNA nucleotide bases

JULY 2004 – 11:

27 The assembly of a messenger RNA strand that normally begins with UAC has been changed so that the newly assembled messenger RNA strand begins with UAG. Which of the following will most likely occur?

A The protein will be missing the first amino acid.

B The amino acids that make up the protein will all be different.

C The mRNA will become attached to a ribosome.

D* The production of the protein will be stopped.

OCTOBER 2005 – 11:


15 Which of the following is best supported by the information above?

A Mutations located on chromosome 17 will result in cancer.

B Cancerous growth will cause a mutation in some BRCA1 alleles.

C* Mutated BRCA1 alleles are only one factor involved in cancer.

D Women with a mutant allele of BRCA1will develop cancer.

OCTOBER 2005 – 11:

27 A change within a single base pair in DNA is least likely to be observable if the change affects —

A the production of a stop codon

B* an unexpressed recessive trait

C actions of a codominant allele

D the expression of a sex-linked trait

FALL 2005 – 11:

48 A change within a single base pair in DNA is least likely to be observable if the change affects —

F the production of a stop codon

G* an unexpressed recessive trait

H actions of a codominant allele

J the expression of a sex-linked trait

FEBRUARY 2006 – 11:

5 The diagram above shows chromosomes in a cell undergoing cell division. If one of the chromosomes breaks during this process, which of the following will most likely happen?

A* Mutation

B Selection

C Duplication

D Segregation

FEBRUARY 2006 – 11:

48 Which of the following is a change that could be passed on to an organism’s offspring?

F* Damage to the DNA of gamete cells

G Damage to skin cells from exposure to sunlight

H Damage to DNA in the cytoplasm of cheek cells

J Damage to hair pigment cells with permanent dyes

APRIL 2006 – 10:

20 The diagram shows three generations of cells produced by a single cell through mitosis. In the process,a single mutation occurred at the point indicated. The mutation caused changes within a dominant allele. How many of the 15 cells contain the mutation? Record and bubble in your answer on the answer document. Answer: 7

APRIL 2006 – 10:

39 This illustration is an example of a normal DNA sequence. Which of the following represents a singlebase change in the sequence? Answer D

APRIL 2006 – 11:

7 Which of these best explains how mutation can be beneficial to an organism?

A* Phenotypic change may create an advantage over other organisms.

B Recombined genetic material improves genotype stability.

C Mitosis becomes a favored means of reproduction.

D Deoxyribose sugars develop into additional nucleotides.

APRIL 2006 – 11:

31 Sickle-cell anemia is a disorder resulting from a mutation that leads to the production of an abnormal protein. Which component of the DNA molecule provides instructions for the production of the protein?

A The phosphate groups

B The sugar molecules

C* The sequence of nitrogen bases

D The bonds that hold the sugars to the bases

JULY 2006 – 11:

10 If one nucleotide is omitted or accidentally repeated in the process of DNA duplication, which of the following is most likely to occur?

F Gene deletion

G* Gene mutation

H Gene insertion

J Gene segregation

JULY 2006 – 11:

32 A deletion of a DNA base from a gene affects an organism by —

F causing future gametes to have additional chromosomes

G* changing the sequence of amino acids in a protein

H causing chromosome fragments to form long chains

J changing the structure of ribose sugar in nucleic acids

JULY 2006 – 11:

52 Which of the following is a change that could be passed on to an organism’s offspring?

F* Damage to the DNA of gamete cells

G Damage to skin cells from exposure to sunlight

H Damage to DNA in the cytoplasm of cheek cells

J Damage to hair pigment cells with permanent dyes