Question

Polymerase can be defined as ______________

(a) an enzyme used to synthesize a new DNA or RNA strand on the basis of pre-existing strand or at times without a pre-existing strand

(b) an enzyme used for removal of nucleotides from the DNA or RNA strand

(c) an enzyme which can synthesize only a new DNA strand, not an RNA strand

(d) an enzyme which can synthesize either a new DNA or an RNA strand but only when a strand is there

I have been asked this question during a job interview.

My enquiry is from Polymerases in division Basics of Genetic Engineering of Genetic Engineering

Answer 1

Right choice is (a) an enzyme used to synthesize a new DNA or RNA strand on the basis of pre-existing strand or at times without a pre-existing strand

Explanation: The synthesis of a new DNA or RNA strand can be done either on the basis of a pre-existing strand or without it. Those which don’t require a pre-existing strand are known as template free or template independent.