California Science Test (CAST) 8th Grade Practice Exam

The multi-step process of turning the code of a gene into its final product (most often a protein)

Gene expression Mutation Gene mutation Silent mutation

Correct Answer:

Gene expression

Explanation:

Gene expression is the multi-step process by which a gene’s code is used to make a final product, usually a protein. It begins with transcription, where the DNA sequence is copied into messenger RNA, and continues with translation, where ribosomes read the mRNA and assemble amino acids into a protein. The protein may then fold and be modified to become functional. The other options describe changes to DNA (mutations) rather than the process of using gene code to make a product, and a silent mutation is a type of mutation that doesn’t alter the protein. So, gene expression best captures the overall process.

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