Question

Which statement is FALSE?

a) DNA synthesis occurs always from 5 to 3 (This refers to synthesis of the new strand, not movement on the template.)
b) A single bacterial DNA polymerase undertakes semiconservative replication.
c) Bacteria usually have only one replicase comprised of multiple subunits.
d) The typical eukaryotic nucleus has five replicases

Answer 1

The false statement is that the typical eukaryotic nucleus has five replicases. In eukaryotic replication, DNA polymerase reads the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction and adds nucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction. Replication also occurs on the lagging strand through Okazaki fragments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The false statement is d) The typical eukaryotic nucleus has five replicases.

In eukaryotic DNA replication, DNA polymerase reads the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction and adds nucleotides only in the 5' to 3' direction. The leading strand is synthesized in the direction away from the replication fork, while replication on the lagging strand occurs in short stretches of DNA called Okazaki fragments. Eukaryotic replication involves multiple DNA polymerases, not just five.