Textbook Question
How does telomerase prevent linear chromosomes from shortening during replication?
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 8b
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
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the structure of DNA: DNA is composed of two strands that form a double helix. Each strand is made up of nucleotides, which include a phosphate group, a sugar molecule (deoxyribose), and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine).
Recognize the antiparallel orientation: In the double helix, the two strands run in opposite directions, meaning one strand runs 5' to 3' and the other runs 3' to 5'. This orientation is crucial for the replication and repair processes.
Identify the role of nucleotide excision repair: This repair mechanism is responsible for detecting and removing damaged nucleotides, such as those caused by UV light or chemical exposure, and replacing them with the correct nucleotides.
Explore how proteins recognize DNA damage: Proteins involved in nucleotide excision repair can identify distortions in the DNA helix caused by damage. The antiparallel orientation allows these proteins to scan both strands effectively, recognizing a wide variety of damage types.
Consider the flexibility of the DNA structure: The double helix can undergo local unwinding or bending, which helps repair proteins access and recognize damaged sites. The antiparallel nature ensures that the repair machinery can operate efficiently across different types of damage.
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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 nucleotides. The structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases (adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine). This configuration allows for the recognition and repair of damaged sites by repair proteins, as any deviation from the normal base pairing can be detected.
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Discovering the Structure of DNA
Antiparallel Orientation
The antiparallel orientation refers to the opposite directional alignment of the two DNA strands, where one strand runs 5' to 3' and the other 3' to 5'. This orientation is crucial for replication and repair processes, as it ensures that enzymes and repair proteins can access and interact with the DNA in a consistent manner, facilitating the recognition of structural anomalies.
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Nucleotide Excision Repair
Nucleotide excision repair is a DNA repair mechanism that identifies and removes damaged nucleotides, particularly those causing distortions in the DNA helix. This process involves several proteins that scan the DNA for irregularities, excise the damaged section, and fill in the gap with the correct nucleotides, maintaining genomic integrity.
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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.
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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?
(a) the polarity of each DNA strand
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Textbook Question
In the late 1950s, Herbert Taylor grew bean root-tip cells in a solution of radioactive thymidine (a precursor to one of the deoxyribonucleotides in DNA) and allowed them to undergo one round of DNA replication. He then transferred the cells to a solution without radioactive thymidine, allowed them to replicate again, and examined their chromosomes for the presence of radioactivity. His results are shown in the following figure, where red indicates a radioactive chromatid.
(b) What would the results of Taylor's experiment be if eukaryotes used a conservative mode of DNA 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?
(c) the energy differences between correct and incorrect base pairs
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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
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