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14 votes
14 votes
What does a terminator sequence do?

A. tells the DNA strand to attach to RNA polymerase
B. tells RNA polymerase to STOP transcription
C. tells RNA polymerase to START transcription
D. tells the nucleus to remove RNA polymerase from the
DNA strand

User Nick Cox
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2 Answers

18 votes
18 votes

Final answer:

The terminator sequence signals the end of mRNA synthesis during the termination stage of transcription by causing RNA polymerase to stall and release the newly made mRNA transcript. The correct answer to the question regarding the terminator sequence's function is that it tells RNA polymerase to STOP transcription.

Step-by-step explanation:

The terminator sequence in DNA transcription plays a crucial role in signaling the end of mRNA synthesis. During the third stage of transcription known as termination, the RNA polymerase enzyme reads the DNA template and upon encountering the terminator sequence, it triggers the mechanism to release the newly synthesized mRNA. There are different types of termination signals, but typically they involve repeated nucleotide sequences within the DNA that cause RNA polymerase to stall. This stalling then allows the RNA molecule to fold upon itself, often forming a hairpin structure, which eventually leads to the dissociation of the RNA polymerase from the DNA template, thus freeing the RNA transcript.

When answering the quiz question, the correct choice is B. The terminator sequence tells RNA polymerase to STOP transcription. It does not initiate transcription, signal for the DNA strand to attach to RNA polymerase, nor does it advise the nucleus to remove RNA polymerase.

User Mahgolsadat Fathi
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3.2k points
12 votes
12 votes
D. Tells the nucleus to remove RNA polymerase from the DNA strand
User Catch
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