Question

36. Which of the following describes the synthesis of nucleic acids?

A. Strands in a double helix are synthesized in a parallel direction such that one end of the molecule has two 3' ends and other has two 5' ends
B. Complementary pairing between bases is required for copying nucleic acids
C. Nucleotides are added to the 5' end of a single nucleic acid strand
D. Nucleic acids are polymerized by the formation of peptide bonds between nucleotides

Answer 1

Nucleic acid synthesis involves the addition of nucleotides to a single strand in a 5' to 3' direction through complementary base pairing. The strands of DNA are antiparallel, with one strand running from 5' to 3' and the other running from 3' to 5'. Adenine pairs with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The synthesis of nucleic acids involves several key processes. Nucleic acid chains have polarity, with a 5' phosphate group at one end and a 3'-OH group at the other end. DNA is made up of two strands that are antiparallel, meaning they run in opposite directions. Complementary base pairing between nucleotides is required for copying nucleic acids, with adenine (A) always pairing with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) always pairing with guanine (G). Nucleotides are added to the 3' end of a single nucleic acid strand, resulting in the polymerization of nucleic acids.