What is the significance of the 5' and 3' ends of a DNA strand?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the significance of the 5' and 3' ends of a DNA strand?
They indicate the direction of replication
They determine the type of base pairs
They are sites for protein binding
They are involved in RNA splicing
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the significance of the 5' and 3' ends of a DNA strand?
Step 1: Understand that DNA is made up of two strands that run in opposite directions.
Step 2: Identify the ends of a DNA strand: one end is called the 5' end and the other is the 3' end.
Step 3: Know that the 5' end has a phosphate group attached, while the 3' end has a hydroxyl group (OH).
Step 4: Recognize that when DNA is copied (replication) or when RNA is made from DNA (transcription), the process always goes from the 5' end to the 3' end.
Step 5: Realize that this directionality is important for the proper functioning of DNA and RNA in cells.
