Question

After _______________________ attaches a DNA nucleotide to the 3-OH group on the last nucleotide of the RNA primer, each new DNA nucleotide then provides the 3-OH group needed for the next DNA nucleotide to be added. This process continues as long as the template is available

Answer 1

DNA polymerase extends an RNA primer with DNA nucleotides to synthesize a new DNA strand during replication. The primer provides the required 3'-OH group, allowing nucleotides to be added in the 5' to 3' direction.

Step-by-step explanation:

After DNA polymerase attaches a DNA nucleotide to the 3'-OH group on the last nucleotide of the RNA primer, each new DNA nucleotide then provides the 3'-OH group needed for the next DNA nucleotide to be added. This process, known as DNA replication, can only occur in a 5' to 3' direction and requires a free 3'-OH group for the formation of a covalent phosphodiester bond. Initially, an RNA primer synthesized by RNA primase is necessary to provide this starting 3'-OH.

The RNA primer is a short segment that is complementary to the DNA template strand. DNA polymerase III extends the primer by adding nucleotides one by one to the growing DNA chain. This elongation process continues along the DNA template strand until the replication is completed, resulting in a new strand of DNA.