Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
To replicate DNA, free nucleotides with three phosphate groups are used. These are called:
A
Ribonucleoside monophosphates (rNMPs)
B
Amino acids
C
Deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs)
D
Deoxynucleoside diphosphates (dNDPs)
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the process of DNA replication: DNA replication involves the synthesis of a new strand of DNA using the original strand as a template. This requires free nucleotides to be added to the growing DNA strand.
Recognize the type of nucleotides used in DNA replication: DNA is composed of deoxyribonucleotides, which are different from ribonucleotides used in RNA synthesis. The nucleotides used in DNA replication must match the DNA structure.
Identify the correct form of nucleotides: During DNA replication, nucleotides with three phosphate groups are required. These are called deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs). The triphosphate group provides the energy needed for the formation of the phosphodiester bond between nucleotides.
Eliminate incorrect options: Ribonucleoside monophosphates (rNMPs) are used in RNA synthesis, not DNA replication. Amino acids are building blocks of proteins, not nucleotides. Deoxynucleoside diphosphates (dNDPs) lack the third phosphate group needed for energy during DNA synthesis.
Conclude that the correct answer is deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs), as they are the free nucleotides with three phosphate groups used in DNA replication.