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Multiple Choice
Which of the following does DNA polymerase require to catalyze the synthesis of DNA?
A
A primer with a free 3'-OH group
B
Ribonucleotides
C
ATP as an energy source
D
A template strand
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that DNA polymerase is an enzyme responsible for synthesizing DNA strands by adding nucleotides to a growing DNA chain.
Recognize that DNA polymerase requires a primer with a free 3'-OH group to initiate the synthesis. This is because the enzyme can only add nucleotides to an existing strand, not start a new one from scratch.
Identify that a template strand is necessary for DNA polymerase to know which nucleotides to add. The template strand provides the sequence that the new DNA strand will complement.
Note that ribonucleotides are not directly required by DNA polymerase for DNA synthesis, as it uses deoxyribonucleotides instead.
Understand that while ATP is a common energy source in cellular processes, DNA polymerase does not directly use ATP to catalyze the synthesis of DNA. The energy for the addition of nucleotides comes from the nucleotides themselves, which are in the form of deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs).