Question

During the replication of DNA, __________.

a. only one strand of the molecule acts as a template
b. the reaction is catalyzed by RNA polymerase
c. both strands of a molecule act as templates
d. errors never occur
e. the cell undergoes mitosis

Answer 1

During the replication of DNA, both strands of the DNA molecule act as templates. This means that each strand serves as a guide for the creation of a new complementary strand.

Answer 2

The correct answer is c. both strands of a molecule act as templates.

Step-by-step explanation:

DNA replication is a semi-conservative process which means that each strand of DNA acts as a template strand to synthesize the new DNA strand. DNA polymerase is the enzyme that helps in the production of new DNA strands by adding nucleotides at 3' end of the growing DNA stretch.

One DNA strand is called the leading strand and the other lagging strand. The leading strand is synthesized continuously but lagging strands are synthesized in a discontinuous way.

So due to discontinuous replication of lagging strand small fragments of DNA are synthesized which are called Okazaki fragments. Then these fragments are sealed by ligase enzymes. So the correct answer is c.