Transcription Transitional Reasoning Download PDF

Questions

1. 1.

   A molecular biologist isolates a linear DNA duplex and determines the sequences of both strands across a target transcription unit: Strand X is 5'-GCA TTA CGG TGA-3' and Strand Y is 3'-CGT AAT GCC ACT-5'. During an in vitro transcription assay, RNA polymerase transcribes this duplex to produce an RNA transcript with the sequence 5'-GCA UUA CGG UGA-3'. Which statement correctly identifies the functional role of Strand Y and the direction in which RNA polymerase moves along it during synthesis?

   • A) Strand Y serves as the coding strand, and RNA polymerase moves along it in the 5' to 3' direction.
   • B) Strand Y serves as the template strand, and RNA polymerase moves along it in the 5' to 3' direction.
   • C) Strand Y serves as the template strand, and RNA polymerase moves along it in the 3' to 5' direction.
   • D) Strand Y serves as the coding strand, and RNA polymerase moves along it in the 3' to 5' direction.