A portion of one strand of DNA has the sequence 5' AATGGCTTA 3'. If this strand is used as a template for DNA replication, which of the following correctly depicts the sequence of the newly synthesized strand in the direction in which it will be synthesized?
A) 5' TAAGCCATT 3'
B) 5' AATGGCTTA 3'
C) 3' AATGGCTTA 5'
D) 5' TTACCGAAT 3'
E) 3' TTACCGAAT 5'

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

DNA replication involves the synthesis of a new strand that is complementary to the template strand, and it proceeds in the 5' to 3' direction. The complementary base pairing rules dictate that A pairs with T and G pairs with C. Therefore, the sequence complementary to 5' AATGGCTTA 3' is 3' TTACCGAAT 5', which is option E.

A Portion of One Strand of DNA Has the Sequence