Compared with DNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase:
A) does not require a primer to initiate synthesis.
B) introduces no errors into genetic material because it synthesizes RNA, not DNA.
C) makes fewer errors in synthesizing a complementary polynucleotide.
D) makes more errors because it lacks the 3' $\rightarrow$ 5' proofreading exonuclease activity.
E) synthesizes complementary strands in the opposite direction-from 3' $\rightarrow$ 5'.

Question

Compared with DNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase:
A) does not require a primer to initiate synthesis.
B) introduces no errors into genetic material because it synthesizes RNA, not DNA.
C) makes fewer errors in synthesizing a complementary polynucleotide.
D) makes more errors because it lacks the 3' $\rightarrow$ 5' proofreading exonuclease activity.
E) synthesizes complementary strands in the opposite direction-from 3' $\rightarrow$  5'.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reverse transcriptase lacks the 3' to 5' proofreading exonuclease activity that DNA polymerase has, which means it makes more errors in synthesizing a complementary polynucleotide.

Compared with DNA Polymerase, Reverse Transcriptase: A) Does Not Require →\rightarrow→

Compared with DNA Polymerase, Reverse Transcriptase:
A) Does Not Require $\rightarrow$