Evolution
Reproduction, Genes, and Heredity
The protein molecules an organism makes affect the organism’s physical traits, physiology, and behaviors.
Item RH022006: Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells and speed up chemical reactions in cells.
Evolutionary biologists study the proteins that organisms make because the traits of organisms depend on the proteins they produce. Which of the following are functions of protein molecules within cells?
- Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells, and they speed up chemical reactions in cells.
- Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells, but they do not speed up chemical reactions in cells.
- Protein molecules speed up chemical reactions in cells, but they do not help other molecules get in and out of cells.
- Protein molecules do not help other molecules get in and out of cells, nor do they speed up chemical reactions in cells.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 559 |
6–8 n = 23 |
9–12 n = 499 |
Male n = 221 |
Female n = 300 |
English n = 516 |
Other n = 13 |
||
| A. | Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells, and they speed up chemical reactions in cells. | 40% | 30% | 39% | 37% | 39% | 38% | 62% |
| B. | Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells, but they do not speed up chemical reactions in cells. | 27% | 13% | 28% | 28% | 27% | 27% | 8% |
| C. | Protein molecules speed up chemical reactions in cells, but they do not help other molecules get in and out of cells. | 26% | 52% | 25% | 26% | 28% | 27% | 31% |
| D. | Protein molecules do not help other molecules get in and out of cells, nor do they speed up chemical reactions in cells. | 8% | 4% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 8% | 0% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 281 |
6–8 n = 18 |
9–12 n = 229 |
Male n = 109 |
Female n = 135 |
English n = 243 |
Other n = 9 |
||
| A. | Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells, and they speed up chemical reactions in cells. | 44% | 44% | 44% | 52% | 39% | 44% | 33% |
| B. | Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells, but they do not speed up chemical reactions in cells. | 26% | 28% | 27% | 22% | 31% | 27% | 22% |
| C. | Protein molecules speed up chemical reactions in cells, but they do not help other molecules get in and out of cells. | 22% | 22% | 23% | 20% | 21% | 22% | 33% |
| D. | Protein molecules do not help other molecules get in and out of cells, nor do they speed up chemical reactions in cells. | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 9% | 7% | 11% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 305 |
6–8 n = 3 |
9–12 n = 280 |
Male n = 139 |
Female n = 150 |
English n = 276 |
Other n = 8 |
||
| A. | Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells, and they speed up chemical reactions in cells. | 49% | 33% | 50% | 51% | 49% | 50% | 25% |
| B. | Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells, but they do not speed up chemical reactions in cells. | 24% | 33% | 24% | 24% | 23% | 24% | 13% |
| C. | Protein molecules speed up chemical reactions in cells, but they do not help other molecules get in and out of cells. | 21% | 33% | 20% | 21% | 20% | 20% | 50% |
| D. | Protein molecules do not help other molecules get in and out of cells, nor do they speed up chemical reactions in cells. | 6% | 0% | 6% | 4% | 8% | 6% | 13% |