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Multiple Choice
Which enzyme is responsible for connecting complementary nucleotides to a growing DNA strand during DNA replication?
A
Helicase
B
Ligase
C
Primase
D
DNA polymerase
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the process of DNA replication: DNA replication is the process by which a DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules. It involves several enzymes, each with a specific role.
Identify the role of DNA polymerase: DNA polymerase is the enzyme responsible for adding complementary nucleotides to the growing DNA strand. It reads the template strand and matches each nucleotide with its complementary base (A with T, and G with C).
Differentiate the roles of other enzymes: Helicase unwinds the DNA double helix, primase synthesizes RNA primers to provide a starting point for DNA polymerase, and ligase joins Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand.
Focus on the specific question: The question asks which enzyme connects complementary nucleotides to the growing DNA strand. Based on the roles of the enzymes, DNA polymerase is the correct answer.
Conclude with the reasoning: DNA polymerase is the enzyme that directly facilitates the addition of complementary nucleotides to the growing DNA strand during replication, making it the correct choice.