Question

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding the synthesis of polynucleotides?

A: It was begun by Khorana in 1981.
B: The gene for human interferon was the first polynucleotide to be synthesized.
C: A computer-controlled machine assembles a polynucleotide one nucleotide at a time from the 5′ end to the 3′ end.
D: Flurophores can be incorporated into the synthesized polynucleotide.
E: Double-stranded polynucleotides can be produced by the computer-controlled machine.

Answer 1

The true statement about polynucleotide synthesis is that fluorophores can be incorporated into the synthesized polynucleotide, allowing for fluorescent labeling in various research applications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that is true regarding the synthesis of polynucleotides is indeed D: Fluorophores can be incorporated into the synthesized polynucleotide. In the chemical synthesis of polynucleotides, which encompasses both DNA and RNA strands, researchers often introduce modifications to the nucleotide sequence for various purposes. One common modification involves the incorporation of fluorophores, which are fluorescent chemical compounds.

Fluorophores serve as valuable tools in molecular biology and biochemistry. When incorporated into a polynucleotide, fluorophores enable researchers to visualize and study the nucleic acid. This can be particularly useful in techniques like fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), where specific DNA or RNA sequences are labeled with fluorophores to identify their presence and location within a cell or tissue. The ability to incorporate fluorophores enhances the versatility of synthesized polynucleotides in various experimental applications.