Evolution
Reproduction, Genes, and Heredity
Genetic information is encoded in DNA molecules.
Item RH023009: Both an organism's physical characteristics and the function of the organism's cells could be influenced by the actions of protein molecules in an organism's cells (no specific organism identified).
Because the traits of organisms depends on the proteins they produce, evolutionary biologists study the proteins that organisms make. Which of the following describes ways that protein molecules are important to an organism?
- Proteins play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics and in the function of the organism's cells.
- Proteins play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics but not in the functions of the organism's cells.
- Proteins play a part in the function of the organism's cells but not in the development of the organism's physical characteristics.
- Proteins do not play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics nor in the function of the organism's cells.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 580 |
6–8 n = 25 |
9–12 n = 514 |
Male n = 254 |
Female n = 286 |
English n = 526 |
Other n = 13 |
||
| A. | Proteins play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics and in the function of the organism's cells. | 59% | 56% | 59% | 56% | 63% | 60% | 38% |
| B. | Proteins play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics but not in the functions of the organism's cells. | 17% | 24% | 18% | 22% | 13% | 18% | 23% |
| C. | Proteins play a part in the function of the organism's cells but not in the development of the organism's physical characteristics. | 19% | 4% | 19% | 15% | 22% | 18% | 31% |
| D. | Proteins do not play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics nor in the function of the organism's cells. | 4% | 16% | 4% | 7% | 2% | 4% | 8% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 255 |
6–8 n = 15 |
9–12 n = 195 |
Male n = 97 |
Female n = 119 |
English n = 205 |
Other n = 6 |
||
| A. | Proteins play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics and in the function of the organism's cells. | 62% | 27% | 64% | 62% | 61% | 62% | 33% |
| B. | Proteins play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics but not in the functions of the organism's cells. | 15% | 33% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 15% | 0% |
| C. | Proteins play a part in the function of the organism's cells but not in the development of the organism's physical characteristics. | 17% | 33% | 16% | 14% | 19% | 17% | 50% |
| D. | Proteins do not play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics nor in the function of the organism's cells. | 6% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 17% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 301 |
6–8 n = 8 |
9–12 n = 274 |
Male n = 134 |
Female n = 150 |
English n = 274 |
Other n = 9 |
||
| A. | Proteins play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics and in the function of the organism's cells. | 72% | 75% | 72% | 70% | 74% | 73% | 67% |
| B. | Proteins play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics but not in the functions of the organism's cells. | 14% | 0% | 14% | 16% | 12% | 14% | 11% |
| C. | Proteins play a part in the function of the organism's cells but not in the development of the organism's physical characteristics. | 13% | 25% | 13% | 10% | 14% | 13% | 22% |
| D. | Proteins do not play a part in the development of an organism's physical characteristics nor in the function of the organism's cells. | 1% | 0% | 1% | 3% | 0% | 1% | 0% |