Lesson 3.4.2.2

3.4.2.2 Translation and the genetic code Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.4.2.2, Translation and the genetic code: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Biology (7402), Unit 4: Genetic information, variation and relationships, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. In a cell, where does translation primarily take place?

    • Centriole
    • Ribosome
    • Nucleus
    • Lysosome

  2. Which molecule provides the energy needed to form peptide bonds during translation?

    • DNA
    • Glucose
    • NAD
    • ATP

  3. Which molecule carries amino acids to the ribosome during translation?

    • mRNA
    • tRNA
    • rRNA
    • DNA

  4. What is a triplet of bases on an mRNA molecule called?

    • Anticodon
    • Codon
    • Intron
    • Exon

  5. Which type of nucleic acid molecule contains an anticodon sequence?

    • tRNA
    • DNA
    • mRNA
    • rRNA

  6. A tRNA has the anticodon UAC. Which mRNA codon does it pair with?

    • AUG
    • CAU
    • GUA
    • UAC

  7. A polypeptide has five amino acids. What is the minimum number of bases in the mRNA that codes for it, excluding any stop codon?

    • 10
    • 5
    • 20
    • 15

  8. Which property of the genetic code means some base substitutions do not alter the amino acid coded?

    • Non-overlapping
    • Triplet
    • Degenerate
    • Universal

  9. What unit of mRNA does a ribosome read at one time during translation?

    • One codon
    • One amino acid
    • One gene
    • One base

  10. Which source is used to determine the amino acid sequence from an mRNA base sequence?

    • Karyotype diagram
    • Genetic code table
    • Periodic table
    • Phylogenetic tree

  11. Which codon signals the termination of polypeptide chain synthesis during translation?

    • Start codon
    • Stop codon
    • Anticodon
    • Promoter codon

  12. To which specific site on a tRNA molecule does an amino acid attach?

    • 3' end
    • 5' end
    • Anticodon loop
    • Hydrogen bond

  13. What effect does a silent base substitution have on the resulting polypeptide chain?

    • Shorter chain
    • No effect
    • Altered structure
    • Frameshift mutation

  14. What does a tRNA molecule do immediately after releasing its amino acid?

    • Replicates
    • Translates
    • Recharges
    • Degrades

  15. An mRNA of 18 bases has no introns and ends with one stop codon. How many amino acids does it code for?

    • 5
    • 18
    • 17
    • 6

  16. What directly determines the specific sequence of amino acids in a synthesized polypeptide?

    • RNA polymerase concentration
    • Ribosomal size
    • tRNA anticodon count
    • mRNA codon sequence

  17. In which region of a eukaryotic cell does translation take place?

    • Intermembrane space
    • Nucleus
    • Nucleolus
    • Cytoplasm

  18. In which direction does a ribosome move along an mRNA strand during translation?

    • 5' to 5'
    • 3' to 5'
    • 5' to 3'
    • 3' to 3'

  19. Which step in translation requires ATP energy to enable protein synthesis?

    • Codon reading
    • Anticodon binding
    • Intron splicing
    • Amino acid activation

  20. What is the name of the bond that links amino acids together in a polypeptide during translation?

    • A hydrogen bond
    • An ester bond
    • A glycosidic bond
    • A peptide bond

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