Question

Which reagent acts as a template for the DNA polymerase so that it knows which new DNA to make?

Option 1: RNA
Option 2: DNA
Option 3: Primer
Option 4: Ribosome

Answer 1

DNA acts as the template for DNA polymerase during DNA replication, guiding the enzyme in adding new, complementary DNA nucleotides.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reagent that acts as a template for DNA polymerase is the DNA itself. When DNA is replicated, a primer is required to start the addition of new nucleotides. This primer is initially made up of RNA nucleotides and is synthesized by an enzyme called primase. The primer provides a free 3'-OH end onto which DNA polymerase can add DNA nucleotides, complementary to the template strand. As replication progresses, another enzyme, DNA polymerase I, replaces the RNA nucleotides with DNA nucleotides. Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2: DNA. During this complex process, the primer, made of RNA, is essential for initiating DNA synthesis, but the actual template that guides which new DNA to make is the original DNA strand.

The reagent that acts as a template for DNA polymerase is the primer. A primer is a short segment of RNA, about five to ten nucleotides long, that is complementary to the template DNA. DNA polymerase uses the primer to extend the new DNA strand, adding nucleotides one by one that are complementary to the template strand.