Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Reproduction, Genes, and Heredity ~ Item RH019003 ~ Student Performance

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What do DNA and proteins have to do with each other?

DNA is a type of protein.
Proteins are a type of DNA.
DNA provides information for making proteins.
DNA and proteins have nothing to do with each other.

Pre-Test

Distribution of responses (prior to studying evolution in high school)
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades		Gender		Primary Language
		n = 572	6–8 n = 18	9–12 n = 502	Male n = 245	Female n = 283	English n = 511	Other n = 18
A.	DNA is a type of protein.	15%	17%	15%	14%	16%	15%	17%
B.	Proteins are a type of DNA.	9%	11%	9%	11%	8%	10%	6%
C.	DNA provides information for making proteins.	67%	67%	68%	67%	67%	67%	78%
D.	DNA and proteins have nothing to do with each other.	8%	6%	8%	8%	9%	8%	0%

Post-Test (Control)

Distribution of responses (following typical high school instruction on evolution)
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades		Gender		Primary Language
		n = 274	6–8 n = 14	9–12 n = 230	Male n = 119	Female n = 130	English n = 237	Other n = 9
A.	DNA is a type of protein.	21%	7%	23%	23%	22%	22%	56%
B.	Proteins are a type of DNA.	10%	7%	10%	8%	13%	11%	11%
C.	DNA provides information for making proteins.	65%	79%	62%	66%	60%	63%	33%
D.	DNA and proteins have nothing to do with each other.	4%	7%	4%	3%	5%	5%	0%

Post-Test (Treatment)

Distribution of responses (following completion of an evolution curriculum module)
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades		Gender		Primary Language
		n = 278	6–8 n = 4	9–12 n = 248	Male n = 130	Female n = 131	English n = 251	Other n = 5
A.	DNA is a type of protein.	4%	0%	4%	3%	5%	3%	0%
B.	Proteins are a type of DNA.	3%	25%	3%	4%	3%	4%	0%
C.	DNA provides information for making proteins.	92%	75%	92%	92%	92%	92%	100%
D.	DNA and proteins have nothing to do with each other.	1%	0%	1%	2%	0%	1%	0%