Table 2.

Major concepts covered by the CDCI

Major concept	Corresponding CDCI questions	Major concept	Corresponding CDCI questions
Macromolecules are composed of specific building blocks.	3. Which of the following chemical groups are identical in DNA and RNA?	There are multiple types of information encoded in DNA that may be used at different times.	6. For a typical eukaryotic gene, which of the following is normally expressed as part of the protein?
	17. Are amino acids and nucleotides considered to be macromolecules or building blocks? [building blocks vs. macromolecules]		5. Which of the following does a typical human gene contain?
			7. Which of the following statements correctly describes a promoter? [encoded in DNA, not RNA or attached later]
			21. When are noncoding regions removed from a gene?
Mechanism of RNA synthesis.	1. Which of the following molecules is needed in order for a cell to carry out transcription?	Mechanism of protein synthesis.	2. Which of the following molecules is needed in order for a cell to carry out translation?
	10. How is a region of double-stranded DNA molecule changed during the process of transcription?		4. In which of the following processes does a nucleic acid exhibit catalytic activity?
	16. Which of the following describes the process of transcription? [template and building blocks]		14. Which of the following must occur during the process of translation? [molecular interactions]
	13. What do mRNA, tRNA and rRNA have in common?		16. What role does mRNA play in the process of protein synthesis?
			20. During the protein synthesis, amino acids are bound to which molecules?
Although mistakes can occur in any central dogma process, mutations are permanent changes in the DNA.	19. Imagine that you identify a mutation in a human cell line. Which of the following must also be true? [mutations do not always affect products]	DNA is permanent information storage and products (RNA and proteins) are synthesized when needed.	8. You are comparing brain, heart, liver, and skin cells from the same individual. Which of the following molecules would you expect to be identical between these four cell types?
	22. An error in which of the following processes could result in a heritable mutation? [only replication]		9. A cell receives a signal that it needs to produce a certain protein for the first time. Which of the following processes must occur?
	23. An error in which process can result in a non-functional protein product?		11. Which of the following functions does double-stranded DNA play in a bacterial cell?
			12. Which of the following functions does mRNA play in a bacterial cell?
			18. What do replication and transcription have in common?­