Textbook Question
Researchers design experiments so that only one thing is different between the treatments that are being compared. In the Hershey–Chase experiment, what was this single difference?
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Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 15, Problem 8a
What aspect of DNA structure makes it possible for the proteins of nucleotide excision repair to recognize many different types of DNA damage?
(a) the polarity of each DNA strand
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the basic structure of DNA: DNA is composed of two strands forming a double helix, with each strand consisting of a sugar-phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine) paired through hydrogen bonds.
Recognize the concept of DNA polarity: Each DNA strand has a directionality or polarity, defined by the orientation of the sugar-phosphate backbone. One end of the strand is the 5' end, and the other is the 3' end, which is crucial for various biological processes.
Explore nucleotide excision repair (NER): NER is a DNA repair mechanism that identifies and removes damaged nucleotides, replacing them with the correct ones. It is versatile and can recognize a wide range of DNA damage types, such as UV-induced thymine dimers and bulky adducts.
Identify how DNA structure aids NER: The regularity and uniformity of the DNA double helix allow repair proteins to detect distortions or irregularities in the structure, which often indicate damage. The polarity of the strands helps guide the repair process, ensuring the correct orientation for excision and synthesis.
Consider the role of DNA strand polarity in repair: The polarity of each strand ensures that the repair machinery can correctly identify the damaged site and orient the repair synthesis in the proper direction, maintaining the integrity of the genetic information.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
DNA Structure
DNA is composed of two strands forming a double helix, with each strand consisting of a sugar-phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases. The specific pairing of bases (adenine with thymine, and cytosine with guanine) allows for the recognition and repair of mismatches or damage, as the structure is altered when errors occur.
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04:41
Discovering the Structure of DNA
Nucleotide Excision Repair
Nucleotide excision repair is a mechanism that identifies and removes damaged sections of DNA. It is versatile in recognizing various types of damage, such as bulky adducts or thymine dimers, by detecting distortions in the DNA helix, which are indicative of structural anomalies.
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Polarity of DNA Strands
The polarity of DNA strands refers to the orientation of the sugar-phosphate backbone, with one strand running 5' to 3' and the other 3' to 5'. This antiparallel arrangement is crucial for replication and repair processes, as it ensures that enzymes can correctly identify and process the strands during repair.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Analyze the following statements about DNA synthesis. Select True or False for each statement.
T/FAn RNA polymerase is essential for DNA synthesis.
T/FOkazaki fragments would be unnecessary if DNA polymerase could synthesize DNA in both the 3'→5' and 5'→3' directions.
T/FDNA ligase is used more frequently on the lagging strand than on the leading strand.
T/FToposiomerase is required to separate the two strands of DNA at the replication fork.
Textbook Question
How does telomerase prevent linear chromosomes from shortening during replication?
Textbook Question
What aspect of DNA structure makes it possible for the proteins of nucleotide excision repair to recognize many different types of DNA damage?
(b) the antiparallel orientation of strands in the double helix
Textbook Question
What aspect of DNA structure makes it possible for the proteins of nucleotide excision repair to recognize many different types of DNA damage?
(c) the energy differences between correct and incorrect base pairs
Textbook Question
What aspect of DNA structure makes it possible for the proteins of nucleotide excision repair to recognize many different types of DNA damage?
(d) the regularity of DNA's structure