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Multiple Choice
Which type of nucleic acid is known to function as a nonprotein enzyme, catalyzing specific biochemical reactions?
A
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
B
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
C
Ribozymes (RNA)
D
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of ribozymes. Ribozymes are RNA molecules that act as nonprotein enzymes, meaning they can catalyze specific biochemical reactions without being proteins.
Step 2: Recognize that ribozymes are a subset of RNA molecules. They are distinct from other types of RNA, such as transfer RNA (tRNA) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA), which have structural or transport roles rather than catalytic functions.
Step 3: Recall examples of ribozymes, such as the self-splicing introns and the ribosome's peptidyl transferase activity, which demonstrate RNA's ability to catalyze reactions.
Step 4: Compare ribozymes to DNA. DNA primarily serves as a storage molecule for genetic information and does not have catalytic properties like ribozymes.
Step 5: Conclude that ribozymes are the correct answer to the question, as they are RNA molecules with enzymatic activity, unlike tRNA, rRNA, or DNA.