Question

Which of the following is a characteristic shared by DNA and RNA polymerases? ______

A) direction of polymerization
B) speed
C) type of nucleotides used
D) efficiency of proofreading
E) dependence on helicase

Answer 1

DNA and RNA polymerases both synthesize nucleotide chains in the 5' to 3' direction, adding nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing chain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristic shared by DNA and RNA polymerases is the direction of polymerization. Both types of polymerases add nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing chain, synthesizing in a 5' to 3' direction. Although DNA polymerases and RNA polymerases share this fundamental aspect of synthesis directionality, they differ in other characteristics such as the types of nucleotides they use (deoxyribonucleotides for DNA polymerases and ribonucleotides for RNA polymerases), whether or not they require a primer (DNA polymerases do, while RNA polymerases do not), and the specific proofreading mechanisms they employ.