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Quizzes > Science

Biology IQ Test: Measure Your Knowledge of Cells, Genes, and Evolution

Quick, free biology knowledge quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Judi SingletonUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art biology quiz illustration showing cells dna helix evolution icons on teal background

This biology IQ quiz helps you check your grasp of cell biology, genetics, and evolution in minutes. Practice with focused rounds, then explore biology trivia, easy biology questions, or a chapter 1 biology quiz to refresh key ideas before class. See your score instantly and spot topics to review next.

Which organelle is responsible for producing the majority of a cell's ATP?
Golgi apparatus
Mitochondria
Ribosome
Nucleus
Mitochondria are often called the powerhouse of the cell because they generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation in the inner membrane. This process involves an electron transport chain and chemiosmotic coupling. Other organelles have different primary functions, such as protein synthesis or packaging. .
Which of the following is considered the basic unit of life?
Molecule
Organ
Tissue
Cell
The cell is the smallest unit that can carry out all life processes, including metabolism, growth, and reproduction. Tissues and organs are higher levels of organization composed of cells. Molecules are chemical structures that form the components of cells but don't exhibit life on their own. .
What does DNA stand for?
Ribonucleic acid
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Dinucleic acid
Deoxyribose nucleic acid
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, reflecting its structure as a nucleic acid with a deoxyribose sugar. It carries genetic information in almost all living organisms and some viruses. Its double-helix structure enables replication and storage of hereditary information. .
Which process in plants converts light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose?
Fermentation
Cellular respiration
Photosynthesis
Transpiration
Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts where light energy is captured by chlorophyll to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Cellular respiration, by contrast, breaks down glucose to produce ATP. Transpiration is water loss from leaves, and fermentation is anaerobic energy production in some cells. .
Which cellular structure is the site of protein synthesis?
Lysosome
Nucleus
Golgi apparatus
Ribosome
Ribosomes translate mRNA sequences into polypeptide chains by facilitating peptide bond formation between amino acids. They may be free in the cytosol or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. The Golgi apparatus modifies and sorts proteins, the nucleus stores DNA, and lysosomes degrade cellular waste. .
What does a karyotype display?
Sequence of genes
Protein expression levels
Enzyme activity profiles
Arrangement of chromosomes
A karyotype is a visual profile of all chromosomes in a cell, organized by size, banding pattern, and centromere position. It is used to detect chromosomal abnormalities like aneuploidies. Gene sequences and protein profiles are obtained using different molecular techniques. .
Which type of bond holds complementary bases together in the DNA double helix?
Hydrogen bonds
Ionic bonds
Peptide bonds
Covalent bonds
Hydrogen bonds form between complementary bases (adenine - thymine and guanine - cytosine) to stabilize the DNA double helix. Covalent bonds form the sugar-phosphate backbone, but base pairing is mediated by hydrogen bonds. Ionic and peptide bonds are not involved in base pairing. .
During which phase of the cell cycle is DNA replicated?
S phase
M phase
G1 phase
G2 phase
S phase (synthesis phase) is when the cell duplicates its entire genome to prepare for mitosis. G1 is a growth phase before DNA replication, G2 is a second growth phase after DNA synthesis, and M phase is when mitosis and cytokinesis occur. .
What is the end product of glycolysis for one glucose molecule under aerobic conditions?
Two molecules of acetyl-CoA
Two molecules of pyruvate
Carbon dioxide and water
Four molecules of ATP only
Glycolysis converts one glucose into two pyruvate molecules, netting two ATP and two NADH. Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate enters the mitochondria for further oxidation. Acetyl-CoA is produced in the link reaction, not directly by glycolysis. .
Mendel's law of segregation refers to the separation of what during gamete formation?
Genes
Chromosomes
Traits
Alleles
The law of segregation states that alleles for a trait separate during meiosis so each gamete receives one allele. Genes are DNA segments that code for traits, but it's the allelic variants that segregate. Chromosome separation refers to disjunction, and traits are the expressed characteristics. .
What type of speciation occurs when a population is geographically isolated?
Peripatric speciation
Parapatric speciation
Allopatric speciation
Sympatric speciation
Allopatric speciation happens when physical barriers divide a population, preventing gene flow and leading to divergence. Sympatric speciation occurs without geographic separation, while parapatric and peripatric are variations involving partial or small separate populations. .
In which human organ are erythrocytes produced?
Spleen
Kidney
Liver
Bone marrow
Red blood cells are produced in the red bone marrow within certain bones like the femur and pelvis through a process called erythropoiesis. The liver and spleen can produce blood cells during fetal development but not significantly in adults. The kidney regulates erythropoiesis via erythropoietin. .
Which of the following best describes genetic drift?
Introduction of new mutations
Differential reproductive success
Migration between populations
Random changes in allele frequencies
Genetic drift refers to random fluctuations in allele frequencies, especially in small populations, due to chance events. Differential reproductive success is natural selection, migration is gene flow, and mutations introduce new alleles. .
Which technique is used to amplify a specific DNA segment exponentially?
Gel electrophoresis
Southern blotting
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Western blotting
PCR uses thermal cycling and a DNA polymerase enzyme to exponentially amplify targeted DNA sequences. Gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments by size but doesn't amplify them. Southern blotting detects specific DNA fragments after separation, and Western blotting is for proteins. .
The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of what cellular component?
Nuclear envelope
Cell membrane
Endoplasmic reticulum
Cytoskeleton
The fluid mosaic model portrays the plasma membrane as a dynamic bilayer of lipids with embedded proteins that move laterally. The nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum are membrane-bound but have specific structures. The cytoskeleton is a protein network providing cell shape and transport tracks. .
Which enzyme is responsible for unwinding the DNA double helix during replication?
Topoisomerase
Ligase
Helicase
Primase
Helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds between DNA strands to separate them and form the replication fork. Topoisomerase relieves torsional strain, ligase seals nicks in the backbone, and primase synthesizes RNA primers. .
Which plasma protein is primarily responsible for maintaining colloidal osmotic pressure in blood?
Fibrinogen
Transferrin
Immunoglobulin G
Albumin
Albumin, the most abundant plasma protein, exerts osmotic pressure that retains fluid in the circulatory system. Fibrinogen is involved in clotting, immunoglobulins in immune response, and transferrin transports iron. .
During mitosis, which structure holds sister chromatids together until anaphase?
Centrosome
Telomere
Centromere
Kinetochore
The centromere is the constricted region where two sister chromatids are joined, serving as the attachment site for kinetochores. Kinetochores bind spindle microtubules, telomeres cap chromosome ends, and centrosomes organize spindle poles. .
In the lac operon model of E. coli, which molecule binds to the operator to block transcription when lactose is absent?
CAP-cAMP complex
Lac repressor
Lactose permease
RNA polymerase
The lac repressor binds to the operator sequence in the absence of lactose, preventing RNA polymerase from transcribing the lac genes. CAP-cAMP activates transcription when glucose is low, lactose permease transports lactose, and RNA polymerase carries out transcription. .
Which type of mutation changes a codon to a stop codon, prematurely terminating translation?
Missense mutation
Frameshift mutation
Nonsense mutation
Silent mutation
A nonsense mutation converts a codon specifying an amino acid into a stop codon, leading to truncated proteins. Missense changes one amino acid to another, silent has no change in amino acid, and frameshift alters the reading frame. .
In a population under Hardy - Weinberg equilibrium, what does the term 2pq represent?
Frequency of homozygous dominant genotype
Mutation rate
Frequency of heterozygous genotype
Frequency of recessive allele
In the Hardy - Weinberg equation p² + 2pq + q² = 1, 2pq represents the proportion of heterozygotes in the population. p² is homozygous dominant, q² is homozygous recessive, and mutation rate is not part of the equilibrium equation. .
In oxidative phosphorylation, which molecule serves as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain?
FAD
Carbon dioxide
NAD+
Oxygen
Oxygen accepts electrons at the end of the electron transport chain to form water, which is essential for maintaining the proton gradient. NAD+ and FAD are electron carriers earlier in metabolism; carbon dioxide is a waste product, not an electron acceptor. .
The primary structure of a protein is held together by which type of bond?
Hydrogen bonds
Ionic bonds
Disulfide bonds
Peptide bonds
Peptide bonds link amino acids in a linear chain to form a protein's primary structure. Hydrogen bonds and disulfide bonds stabilize secondary and tertiary structures, and ionic bonds contribute to tertiary and quaternary stability. .
Which biophysical technique detects protein - protein interactions in living cells by measuring energy transfer between two fluorophores?
Co-immunoprecipitation
FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer)
ELISA
Western blot
FRET measures energy transfer between donor and acceptor fluorophores when they are in close proximity, indicating protein - protein interactions in vivo. ELISA and Western blot detect proteins but do not measure interactions directly, and co-immunoprecipitation requires cell lysis. .
In CRISPR - Cas9 genome editing, what component guides Cas9 to the specific DNA target sequence?
Cas9 protein alone
Single-stranded DNA donor
Guide RNA
Protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)
The guide RNA (gRNA) contains a sequence complementary to the target DNA and directs Cas9 to that locus. The PAM sequence is required for Cas9 binding but does not confer specificity by itself. Donor DNA is used for homology-directed repair, and Cas9 alone cannot target DNA without gRNA. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Cell Structures -

    Break down the components of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to understand organelle functions and their roles in life processes.

  2. Interpret Genetic Principles -

    Examine patterns of inheritance, DNA replication, and gene expression to explain how traits are passed and mutated.

  3. Evaluate Evolutionary Mechanisms -

    Compare natural selection, genetic drift, and speciation to assess how species adapt and diversify over time.

  4. Apply Ecological Concepts -

    Assess energy flow, nutrient cycles, and species interactions to understand ecosystem dynamics and environmental impact.

  5. Recall Key Biology Trivia -

    Identify important facts and terminology across fields like taxonomy, physiology, and biochemistry to sharpen your biology quiz responses.

  6. Measure Your IQ Biology Performance -

    Interpret your biology IQ test results to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, guiding further study and skill development.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Cellular Structure & Function -

    Review the roles of major organelles like mitochondria for ATP production, the nucleus for genetic storage, and ribosomes for protein synthesis, as detailed in Alberts' Molecular Biology of the Cell (NCBI). Understand the fluid mosaic model of membranes (lipid bilayer with embedded proteins) to ace related biology trivia. Mnemonic tip: "Many Neat Raccoons Eat" helps recall Mitochondria, Nucleus, Ribosomes, ER.

  2. Genetic Inheritance & Punnett Squares -

    Practice Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment by constructing Punnett squares to predict monohybrid and dihybrid cross ratios. For example, crossing two heterozygous pea plants (Aa × Aa) yields a 3:1 dominant-to-recessive phenotype ratio in offspring. Remember the phrase "Gametes Align, Genes Design" to recall how alleles segregate and randomly assort.

  3. Evolution & Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium -

    Familiarize yourself with the Hardy-Weinberg equation (p² + 2pq + q² = 1) to calculate allele frequencies in non-evolving populations, as outlined in Nature Reviews Genetics. Apply simple problems like predicting q if p = 0.7, then q = 0.3 and genotype frequencies follow suit. Mnemonic "P = Prevails, Q = Quota" helps keep track of major and minor allele frequencies.

  4. Bioenergetics & Metabolic Pathways -

    Trace key steps in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle to see how each glucose molecule yields about 30 - 32 ATP, as described by biochemistry texts on PubMed. Learn the "Goodness Gracious, Father Franklin Did Go By Picking Pumpkins" rhyme to remember glycolysis intermediates from Glucose to Pyruvate. This groundwork is essential for tackling tougher questions on energy metabolism in your biology IQ test.

  5. Ecology & Trophic Dynamics -

    Understand energy flow through ecosystems using the 10% rule and food chain hierarchies, drawing on case studies like Yellowstone wolves (Science journal). Explore how keystone species and trophic cascades shape biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Mastering these concepts will boost your confidence for any iq biology challenge or biology quiz scenario.

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