What reactive chemical groups are found at the 5' and 3' carbons of nucleotides? What is the name of the bond formed when nucleotides are joined in a single strand? Is this bond covalent or noncovalent?
Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Genetics51m
- 2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
- 3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
- 4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
- 5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
- 6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
- 7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
- 8. DNA Replication1h 10m
- 9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
- 10. Transcription1h 0m
- 11. Translation58m
- 12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
- 13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
- 14. Genetic Control of Development44m
- 15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
- 16. Transposable Elements47m
- 17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
- 18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- 19. Cancer Genetics29m
- 20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
- 21. Population Genetics50m
- 22. Evolutionary Genetics29m
1. Introduction to Genetics
Fundamentals of Genetics
Problem 20a
Textbook Question
The following segment of DNA is the template strand transcribed into mRNA:
5'-...GACATGGAA...-3'
What is the sequence of mRNA created from this sequence?

1
Identify the direction of the DNA template strand. The given DNA template strand is 5'-...GACATGGAA...-3'. Remember that transcription occurs in the 5' to 3' direction of the mRNA, which is complementary to the 3' to 5' direction of the DNA template strand.
Determine the complementary base pairing rules for transcription. In RNA, adenine (A) pairs with uracil (U), thymine (T) pairs with adenine (A), cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G), and guanine (G) pairs with cytosine (C).
Using the base pairing rules, transcribe the DNA template strand into the mRNA sequence. For each base in the DNA template strand, write the complementary RNA base. For example, G in the DNA pairs with C in the RNA, A in the DNA pairs with U in the RNA, and so on.
Reverse the sequence of the transcribed mRNA to ensure it is written in the 5' to 3' direction, as mRNA is synthesized in this orientation during transcription.
Write the final mRNA sequence in the 5' to 3' direction, ensuring that all bases are correctly transcribed and oriented.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Transcription
Transcription is the process by which the genetic information in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). During this process, RNA polymerase binds to the DNA template strand and synthesizes a complementary RNA strand. The RNA is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that the RNA strand will have a sequence that is complementary to the DNA template strand.
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Base Pairing Rules
Base pairing rules dictate how nucleotides pair in DNA and RNA. In DNA, adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G). However, in RNA, uracil (U) replaces thymine, so adenine pairs with uracil. Understanding these rules is essential for determining the correct mRNA sequence from a given DNA template.
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Base Distortions
5' to 3' Directionality
Nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA, have directionality, indicated as 5' and 3' ends. The 5' end has a phosphate group, while the 3' end has a hydroxyl group. During transcription, RNA is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that the RNA strand will be complementary to the DNA template strand and will start from the 3' end of the DNA template.
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Directionality
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