Part I: Basic information

Your name 

Part II: Strategy of Life
1. Do you see how DNA can specify the nature of an organism simply by specifying when and where specific proteins are present in cells?Choose one Yes No 

2. Are you comfortable with the notions of hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and amphipathicity (though not necessarily with how the terms roll off the tongue)?Choose one Yes No 

3. Do you see how membranes can self assemble?Choose one Yes No 

4. Do you understand the relationship between the major biological polymers and monomers?Choose one Yes No 

5. Do you understand how the structure of metabolism enables us to convert the substance of other organisms into our own substance?Choose one Yes No 

6. List any topics or study questions in this section you'd like us to go over.

7. Comments/requests on this section? 

Part IV: Protein

8. Are you comfortable with what a protein is in chemical terms?Choose one Yes No 

9. Do you understand the distinction between the four levels of protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary)? Choose one Yes No 

10. Do you see how the structure of a protein determines its function?  Choose one Yes No 

11. Do you see how the structure of a protein determines its location?  Choose one Yes No 

12. Can you make the connection between mutations in DNA and specific types of mutations in protein (and how they can affect protein function?  Choose one Yes No 

13. List any topics or study questions in this section you'd like us to go over.

14. Comments/requests on this section? 

Part V: DNA, RNA, and Translation (no notes for this section)
Now that I've made the questions, I must say that I'm not sure how effective such a list is -- how do you know what level of understanding is appropriate? Nonetheless, here we go.

15. How comfortable are you with the structure of DNA? SelectVery comfortableModerately comfortableSomewhat comfortableNot comfortable
     (e.g. nature of base ratios, 3-dimensional structure of DNA)

16. How comfortable are you with how DNA is replicated? SelectVery comfortableModerately comfortableSomewhat comfortableNot comfortable
     (e.g. semiconservative replication, requirement for primer)

17. Do you understand the roles of the three major types of RNAs - mRNA, rRNA, tRNA? Choose one Yes No 

18. Can you effectively use the genetic code to predict from a DNA sequence (and a given start site) the amino acid sequence of a protein? Choose one Yes No 

20.Comments/requests on this section? 

Part III: Miscellaneous
21. What is your VCU ID# (from your ID card -- lots of digits). 
This is needed to get you VCU library priveleges. (If you've already sent it to me by e-mail, that's enough)

22. Did the meeting with your new advisor go well? 

23. Comments, concerns, questions? (e.g. is this too much?)