Nucleic Acids and the Genetic Material Problem Set

Nucleic Acids and the Genetic Material Problem Set 1

Problem 15: DNA template for mRNA synthesis

Correct!

You have obtained a sample of DNA, and you transcribe mRNA from this DNA and purify it. You then separate the two strands of the DNA and analyze the base composition of each strand and of the mRNA. You obtain the data shown in the table to the right. Which strand of the DNA is the coding strand, serving as a template for mRNA synthesis?

	A	G	C	T	U
DNA strand #1	19.1	26.0	31.0	23.9	0
DNA strand #2	24.2	30.8	25.7	19.3	0
mRNA	19.0	25.9	30.8	0	24.3

A. Strand 1

B. Strand 2
The mRNA uses one of the DNA strands as a template, and thus will be complementary. The non-coding strand of DNA is also complementary to the template, and thus the mRNA and non-coding strands should have the same base compositions, with U replacing T. DNA strand I has the same base composition as the mRNA, with the replacement of T by U.

C. Both Strands 1 and 2

D. Neither Strand 1 or 2

E. Too little information to tell

The Biology Project
University of Arizona
Sunday, September 29, 1996
denicew@u.arizona.edu