56.4k views
0 votes
Do errors occur more frequently in transcription or replication, which one is better, and why?

a) Errors occur more in transcription; replication is more accurate
b) Errors occur more in replication; transcription is more accurate
c) Both have similar error rates
d) Replication and transcription are error-free

User Tao Wang
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Errors occur more frequently in DNA replication compared to transcription. Transcription is generally more accurate due to the presence of proofreading and repair mechanisms.

Step-by-step explanation:

DNA replication is a highly accurate process, but mistakes can occasionally occur, such as a DNA polymerase inserting a wrong base. Uncorrected mistakes may sometimes lead to serious consequences, such as cancer. Repair mechanisms correct the mistakes. In rare cases, mistakes are not corrected, leading to mutations; in other cases, repair enzymes are themselves mutated or defective.

Transcription is the process by which genetic information is copied from DNA to RNA. It is also prone to errors, such as the incorrect incorporation of nucleotides or the skipping or insertion of nucleotides. However, the error rate in transcription is usually lower compared to DNA replication. Overall, errors occur more frequently in DNA replication compared to transcription. While replication errors are rare events, transcription is generally more accurate due to the presence of proofreading and repair mechanisms.

User Rinuthomaz
by
8.7k points

No related questions found