If a portion of a strand of DNA bases reads 5' AGCTAGGGT 3', what would the sequence of bases on the complementary strand read?

Rationale

3' TCGATCGGA 5'

The complementary strand of DNA is formed by pairing adenine (A) with thymine (T) and cytosine (C) with guanine (G). Given the original strand reads 5' AGCTAGGGT 3', the complementary sequence must be read in the 3' to 5' direction, resulting in 3' TCGATCCCA 5'.

A (5' UCGUAGCCA 3') YOUR ANSWER

This sequence represents RNA rather than DNA, as it contains uracil (U) instead of thymine (T). Additionally, it is presented in the 5' to 3' direction, which does not match the required complementary base pairing for a DNA strand.

B (5' TCGTACGGT 3') YOUR ANSWER

This choice is not a correct complementary sequence because it does not accurately match the base pairs of the original DNA strand. Specifically, the second base in the original strand is 'G,' which should pair with 'C,' not 'A' as seen in this sequence.

C (3' AGCTAGGGT 5') YOUR ANSWER

This option simply mirrors the original strand without providing the complementary bases. It does not reflect the necessary base pairing rules nor the proper orientation for a complementary strand.

D (3' TCGATCGGA 5') CORRECT

This option correctly reflects the complementary base pairing: 'A' pairs with 'T', 'G' with 'C', 'C' with 'G', and 'T' with 'A.' Moreover, it is oriented in the correct 3' to 5' direction, making it the accurate complementary sequence for the given strand.

Conclusion

In DNA, complementary base pairing is crucial for replication and function. The 5' AGCTAGGGT 3' strand pairs with 3' TCGATCCCA 5', ensuring accurate genetic information transfer. The correct answer provides both the right bases and the correct orientation, essential for understanding DNA structure and function.

If a portion of a strand of DNA bases reads 5' AGCTAGGGT 3', what would the sequence of bases on the complementary strand read?

3' TCGATCGGA 5'

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