AP®︎ Biology: Topic 6.4 Practice Test
Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with focused practice questions on Topic 6.4 of AP Biology – Translation.
Questions List
Topic 6.4
Question 1 Easy
This question tests the following: IST-1.O.1
What is translation in genetic terms?
What You’re Being Tested On:
Explore the learning objectives taken directly from the College Board’s AP® Biology Curriculum. Ensure you’re prepared for the exact topics covered on the AP® exam, in-class tests, and quizzes, and gain confidence in your mastery of the material.
Topic 6.4: Translation
Learning Objective: 6.4.A
Explain how the phenotype of an organism is determined by its genotype.
Essential Knowledge: 6.4.A.1
Translation of the mRNA to generate a polypeptide occurs on ribosomes that are present in the cytoplasm of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as the cytoplasmic surface of the rough ER of eukaryotic cells.
Essential Knowledge: 6.4.A.2
In prokaryotic organisms, translation of the mRNA molecule occurs while it is being transcribed.
Essential Knowledge: 6.4.A.3
Translation involves many sequential steps, including initiation, elongation, and termination. The salient features of translation include: i. Translation is initiated when the rRNA in the ribosome interacts with the mRNA at the start codon (AUG, coding for the amino acid methionine). ii. The sequence of nucleotides on the mRNA is read in triplets, called codons. iii. Each codon encodes a specific amino acid, which can be deduced by using a genetic code chart. Many amino acids are encoded by more than one codon. iv. Nearly all living organisms use the same genetic code, which is evidence for the common ancestry of all living organisms. v. tRNA brings the correct amino acid to the place specified by the codon on the mRNA. vi. The amino acid is transferred to the growing polypeptide chain. vii. The process continues along the mRNA until a stop codon is reached. viii. Translation terminates with the release of the newly synthesized protein. Exclusion: The details and names of the enzymes and factors involved in each of these steps are beyond the scope of the AP Exam. Exclusion: Memorization of the genetic code, with the exception of the start codon AUG, is beyond the scope of the AP Exam.
Essential Knowledge: 6.4.A.4
Genetic information in retroviruses is a special case and has an alternate flow of information: from RNA to DNA, made possible by reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that copies the viral RNA genome into DNA. This DNA integrates into the host genome and is transcribed and translated for the assembly of new viral progeny.
