Science Assessment ~ Ideas ~ "Theme 1" Genetic information is encoded in DNA molecules.

Key Idea: The protein molecules an organism makes affect the organism’s physical traits, physiology, and behaviors.

Sub-Ideas
Items & Student Performance
Misconceptions
NGSS

Students are expected to know that:

The presence, amount, type, or actions of protein molecules made in an organism’s cells are reflected in an organism’s traits.
Protein molecules are involved in chemical reactions that are responsible for an organism’s body functions.

Boundaries:

Students are not expected to know any of the specific reactions that link proteins to traits.

Percent of students answering correctly (click on the item ID number to view the item and additional data)
Item ID Number	Knowledge Being Assessed	Grades 6–8	Grades 9–12
RH022002	Protein molecules help cells carry out many of their functions, and they are part of body structures such as hair and nails.	48%	61%
RH023005	Both an insect's physical characteristics and its behaviors could be influenced by the actions of protein molecules within the insect's cells.	40%	39%
RH023004	Both a bird's physical characteristics and its behaviors could be influenced by the actions of protein molecules within the bird's cells.	37%	40%
RH023002	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).	34%	39%
RH022001	Protein molecules speed up chemical reactions in cells and help other molecules get in and out of cells.	31%	38%
RH022003	Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells and speed up chemical reactions in cells.	32%	32%
RH023006	Both a plant's physical characteristics and its behaviors could be influenced by the actions of protein molecules within the plant's cells.	29%	35%
RH023003	Both a human's physical characteristics and its behaviors could be influenced by the actions of protein molecules within the cells of the human.	29%	33%
RH023001	Both an organism's physical characteristics and its behaviors could be influenced by the actions of protein molecules (no specific organism identified).	28%	29%

Frequency of selecting a misconception
Misconception ID Number	Student Misconception	Grades 6–8	Grades 9–12
RHM077	The actions of protein molecules do not affect a plant's behaviors (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	48%	50%
RHM076	The actions of protein molecules do not affect an organism's behaviors (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	48%	50%
RHM080	The actions of protein molecules do not affect a human's behaviors (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	47%	51%
RHM079	The actions of protein molecules do not affect an insect's behaviors (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	45%	46%
RHM078	The actions of protein molecules do not affect a bird's behaviors (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	47%	44%
RHM075	The actions of protein molecules do not affect a human's physical characteristics (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	37%	35%
RHM072	The actions of protein molecules do not affect a plant's physical characteristics (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	38%	29%
RHM073	The actions of protein molecules do not affect a bird's physical characteristics (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	29%	28%
RHM074	The actions of protein molecules do not affect an insect's physical characteristics (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	26%	27%
RHM071	The actions of protein molecules do not affect an organism's physical characteristics (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	40%	41%
RHM070	The actions of protein molecules do not help molecules enter in and leave cells (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	41%	39%
RHM069	The actions of protein molecules do not affect the speed of chemical reactions (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	42%	39%
RHM068	The actions of protein molecules do not affect the basic functions of cells (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	26%	20%
RHM067	The actions of protein molecules do not affect an organism's body structures (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).	36%	25%

Frequency of selecting a misconception was calculated by dividing the total number of times a misconception was chosen by the number of times it could have been chosen, averaged over the number of students answering the questions within this particular idea.

NGSS Statements
Code	Statement
LS3.A MS	Genes are located in the chromosomes of cells, with each chromosome pair containing two variants of each of many distinct genes. Each distinct gene chiefly controls the production of specific proteins, which in turn affects the traits of the individual. Changes (mutations) to genes can result in changes to proteins, which can affect the structures and functions of the organism and thereby change traits.