Multiple Choice
Researchers found a strain of E. coli bacteria that had mutation rates one hundred times higher than normal. Which of the following statements correctly describes the most likely cause of these mutations?
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14. DNA Replication
DNA Repair
3:17 minutesProblem 10
Textbook Question
Which of the following methods of DNA repair involves enzymes that recognize and correct nucleotide errors in unmethylated strands of DNA?
a. Light repair of T dimers
b. Dark repair of P dimers
c. Mismatch repair
d. SOS response
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the context of DNA repair mechanisms. DNA repair is essential for correcting errors that occur during DNA replication or due to damage from environmental factors.
Step 2: Review the options given: (a) Light repair of thymine dimers involves photoreactivation using light to directly reverse UV-induced damage, specifically thymine dimers.
Step 3: Dark repair (b) typically refers to nucleotide excision repair that removes bulky DNA lesions like pyrimidine dimers without the need for light, but it does not specifically target unmethylated strands.
Step 4: Mismatch repair (c) is a system that identifies and corrects mismatched nucleotides in newly synthesized DNA strands by recognizing the unmethylated (new) strand, ensuring replication fidelity.
Step 5: The SOS response (d) is a global response to extensive DNA damage that induces error-prone repair mechanisms, not specifically targeting unmethylated strands for mismatch correction.
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Video duration:
3mKey Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Mismatch Repair
Mismatch repair is a DNA repair mechanism that identifies and corrects base-pairing errors introduced during DNA replication. It specifically targets the newly synthesized, unmethylated DNA strand to ensure the correct nucleotide is incorporated, maintaining genetic fidelity.
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DNA Methylation and Strand Discrimination
DNA methylation involves adding methyl groups to specific bases, typically on the parental DNA strand. This methylation allows repair enzymes to distinguish the original (methylated) strand from the newly synthesized (unmethylated) strand, guiding accurate correction of replication errors.
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Types of DNA Repair Mechanisms
DNA repair includes various pathways like light repair (photoreactivation), dark repair (nucleotide excision repair), mismatch repair, and the SOS response. Each targets specific types of DNA damage or errors, using distinct enzymes and processes to maintain genome integrity.
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