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Multiple Choice
What does RNA polymerase synthesize during the process of transcription?
A
A polypeptide chain
B
A strand of RNA complementary to the DNA template
C
A ribosome
D
A new double-stranded DNA molecule
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the process of transcription: Transcription is the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template. It occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and involves the enzyme RNA polymerase.
Identify the role of RNA polymerase: RNA polymerase is responsible for reading the DNA template strand and synthesizing a complementary RNA strand. This RNA strand is single-stranded and matches the sequence of the DNA coding strand, except that uracil (U) replaces thymine (T).
Clarify the product of transcription: The product of transcription is a strand of RNA, not a polypeptide chain, ribosome, or double-stranded DNA molecule. The RNA strand can be messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), or ribosomal RNA (rRNA), depending on the gene being transcribed.
Explain the complementary base pairing: During transcription, RNA polymerase pairs adenine (A) in the DNA template with uracil (U) in RNA, cytosine (C) with guanine (G), guanine (G) with cytosine (C), and thymine (T) with adenine (A). This ensures the RNA strand is complementary to the DNA template.
Summarize the correct answer: RNA polymerase synthesizes a strand of RNA complementary to the DNA template during transcription. This RNA strand is used in subsequent processes like translation to produce proteins.