Question

james is developing a new antibiotic that targets bacteria. during testing, he finds that bacteria treated with the antibiotic can still synthesize some rna, but it is mostly random sequences that do not correspond to any known genes. the bacteria quickly die because they cannot produce essential proteins. what does this tell you about the mechanism of action of the antibiotic?
the antibiotic prevents rna polymerase from forming phosphodiester bonds
the antibiotic causes rna polymerase transcribe random dna sequences
the antibiotic only affects rrna synthesis
the antibiotic prevents post - transcriptional rna modifications
the antibiotic blocks protein synthesis, not rna synthesis

Explanation:

Since bacteria can still synthesize RNA but it's mostly random and non - gene - corresponding, it means the problem is at the transcription stage where RNA polymerase is not correctly transcribing DNA sequences. If RNA polymerase was prevented from forming phosphodiester bonds, no RNA would be made. If it only affected rRNA synthesis, other RNAs could still be made properly. Post - transcriptional modifications are not the issue as the initial transcription is faulty. And since RNA is being made but not correctly, it's not a protein synthesis blockage at the start. So, the antibiotic causes RNA polymerase to transcribe random DNA sequences.

Answer:

The antibiotic causes RNA polymerase transcribe random DNA sequences