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PCAT Genetics Flashcards

6 cards from real PCAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 PCAT Genetics flashcards as text

  1. What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

    Answer: DNA → RNA → Protein

    The central dogma states that genetic information flows from DNA to RNA via transcription, then from RNA to protein via translation.

  2. Which enzyme synthesizes new DNA strands by adding complementary nucleotides during replication?

    Answer: DNA polymerase

    DNA polymerase adds complementary deoxyribonucleotides to the growing strand, always synthesizing in the 5' to 3' direction.

  3. A test cross involves mating an organism of unknown genotype with which type of individual?

    Answer: Homozygous recessive

    Crossing with a homozygous recessive individual reveals the unknown genotype because offspring phenotype ratios reflect the hidden alleles.

  4. Which inheritance pattern occurs when both alleles are simultaneously and fully expressed in a heterozygote?

    Answer: Codominance

    Codominance occurs when both alleles produce their distinct phenotypes simultaneously, as seen in AB blood type expressing both A and B antigens.

  5. Which type of point mutation creates a premature stop codon, causing early termination of protein synthesis?

    Answer: Nonsense mutation

    A nonsense mutation substitutes an amino acid codon with a stop codon, producing a truncated and usually nonfunctional protein.

  6. What is the process of transferring genetic material between bacteria using a bacteriophage as the vector?

    Answer: Transduction

    Transduction occurs when a bacteriophage accidentally packages bacterial DNA and injects it into a new host bacterium.