Question

Read the following three statements carefully and determine which are true and which are false.

1. Nucleic acids are synthesized in the 3' - 5' direction.
2. The sugar-phosphate groups which form the "backbone" of the DNA double-helix are located on the outside of the helix because they are polar.
3. DNA polymerase "reads" its template strand by running along it in a 5' - 3' direction.

18. Read the following three statements carefully and determine which are true and which are false. Nucleic acids are synthesized in the 3' - 5' direction. The sugar-phosphate groups which form the "backbone" of the DNA double-helix are located on the outside of the helix because they are polar. iii) DNA polymerase "reads" its template strand by running along it in a 5'-3' direction.

Answer 1

1. Nucleic acids are synthesized in the 3' - 5' direction.

False. Nucleic acids are synthesized in the 5' - 3' direction.

2. The sugar-phosphate groups which form the "backbone" of the DNA double-helix are located on the outside of the helix because they are polar.

True. The sugar-phosphate groups are on the outside of the double helix because they are negatively charged and also to protect the nitrogenous bases which on the 'inside' of the helix.

3. DNA polymerase "reads" its template strand by running along it in a 5' - 3' direction.

False. DNA polymerase "reads" its template strand by running along it in a 3' - 5' direction.