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Ch. 13 - The Genetic Code and Transcription
All textbooksKlug 12th EditionCh. 13 - The Genetic Code and TranscriptionProblem 13
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Chapter 13, Problem 13

A short RNA molecule was isolated that demonstrated a hyperchromic shift (see Chapter 10), indicating secondary structure. Its sequence was determined to be

     5'-AGGCGCCGACUCUACU-3'

What DNA sequence would give rise to this RNA molecule through transcription?

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Identify the direction of the RNA sequence provided: 5'-AGGCGCCGACUCUACU-3'.
Recall that during transcription, RNA is synthesized from the DNA template strand in the 5' to 3' direction.
Determine the complementary base pairing rules: Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T) in DNA, and Uracil (U) in RNA pairs with Adenine (A) in DNA. Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G) and vice versa.
Write the complementary DNA sequence to the RNA sequence, remembering to replace Uracil (U) in RNA with Thymine (T) in DNA.
Reverse the complementary DNA sequence to reflect the 5' to 3' direction of the coding strand, which is the non-template strand.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Transcription

Transcription is the process by which a DNA sequence is copied into RNA by the enzyme RNA polymerase. During transcription, the DNA double helix unwinds, and one of the strands serves as a template for synthesizing a complementary RNA strand. The RNA molecule is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that nucleotides are added to the 3' end of the growing RNA chain.
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Base Pairing Rules

Base pairing rules dictate how nucleotides pair in DNA and RNA. In DNA, adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G). However, in RNA, uracil (U) replaces thymine, so adenine pairs with uracil. Understanding these rules is essential for determining the corresponding DNA sequence that would transcribe into a given RNA sequence.
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Complementary DNA Sequence

The complementary DNA sequence is the DNA strand that pairs with the RNA sequence produced during transcription. To find this sequence, one must reverse the RNA sequence and apply the base pairing rules. For example, if the RNA has an A, the corresponding DNA will have a T, and if the RNA has a U, the DNA will have an A. This concept is crucial for deducing the original DNA template from the RNA sequence provided.
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