What is the significance of the 5' and 3' ends of a DNA strand?
Practice Questions
1 question
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
The 5' and 3' ends of a DNA strand indicate the direction of replication and transcription, as nucleic acids are synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the significance of the 5' and 3' ends of a DNA strand?
Solution: The 5' and 3' ends of a DNA strand indicate the direction of replication and transcription, as nucleic acids are synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction.
Steps: 5
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.
