History and Development of DNA

History and Development of DNA

History and Development of DNA Quiz Crafted By-

Arti Varshney

Scientific Officer

Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science India Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi


Introduction to History and Development of DNA   

The history of DNA started as early as 5000 BC, when humans began the practice of selective breeding to produce more robust crops and livestock. There have been many instances throughout history where notable discoveries have been made about DNA and inheritance; these have formed the foundations of what we know and continue to advance today. This quiz aims to provide a brief overview of the history of DNA research, leading up to Watson and Crick's discovery of the structure of DNA, and what came next.

Let's look at the questions and their answer. 


Ques 1. The molecular structure of DNA was first discovered and documented by:

a) Francis Watson and James Crick in 1953

b) James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953

c) Rosalind Franklin in 1945

d) None of the above

Answer- b) James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953


Ques 2. The order of nucleotide in the DNA and RNA molecule is a succession of letters, which is known as a nucleic acid sequence. The first complete nucleotide sequence of a genome was done in:

a) 1976

b) 1978

c) 1945

d) 1877

Answer- a) 1978


Ques 3. Approximately, ___ base pair make up a nucleosome, a subunit of chromatin. 

a) 156

b) 146

c) 201

d) 346

  Answer- b) 146


Ques 4. The first identification of “nuclein” in the white blood cells in 1869 was done by:

a) Cohen & Boyer

b) Charles Darwin

c) Friedrich Miescher 

d) Gregor Mendel

Answer- c) Friedrich Miescher


Ques 5. DNA as a transforming principle was given by:

a) Oswald Avery

b) Oswald McAvery & Martha Chase

c) Hershey and Chase

d) Mendel

Answer - a) Oswald Avery


Ques 6. The first disease mapped was

a) Huntington Disease using DNA polymorphism

b) Huntington Disease using STR analysis

c) Down Syndrome using karyotyping

d) Down Syndrome using DNA polymorphism

Answer - a) Huntington Disease using DNA polymorphism


Ques 7. The Human Genome Project was started and completed in the following year:

a) 1990 and 2004

b) 1990 and 2003

c) 1875 and 2004

d) 1991 and 2001

Answer-  b) 1990 and 2003


Ques 8. The first mammal to have its genome decoded was:

a) Fruitfly

b) Mouse

c) Human being

d) Lizard

Answer - b) Mouse


Ques 9. Epigenetics is

a) How DNA sequence expresses the phenotype

b) Genes of an individual 

c) Study of how cells control gene activity without changing the DNA sequence

d) Study of how cells control gene activity without changing the RNA sequence

Answer - c) Study of how cells control gene activity without changing the DNA sequence


Ques 10. rDNA Technology stands for:

a) Resistant DNA Technology

b) Reserve Dinucleotide Technique

c) Recombinant DNA Technology 

d) Rising DNA Technology

Answer - c) Recombinant DNA Technology

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