Researchers found a strain of E. coli bacteria that had mutation rates one hundred times higher than normal. Which of the following statements correctly describes the most likely cause of these results?
A) The single-strand binding proteins were malfunctioning during DNA replication.
B) There were one or more base pair mismatches in the RNA primer.
C) The proofreading mechanism of DNA polymerase was not working properly.
D) The DNA polymerase was unable to add bases to the 3′ end of the growing nucleic acid chain.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The proofreading mechanism of DNA polymerase plays a critical role in correcting errors introduced during DNA replication. Mutations in genes encoding for DNA polymerase or the proteins involved in proofreading can lead to high mutation rates.

Researchers Found a Strain of E