Question

transcription: dna vs. rna
level 1: identify the complementary rna bases from the dna stand:
dna: a t c g
rna: __ __
where in the cell does transcription take place? ____
level 2: transcribe the following dna strand into mrna
t a c g g g g a c t t t a g c a
____________________
level 3: identify the following characteristics as belonging to dna, rna, both or neither
double stranded __ single stranded contains genes __
coils into chromosomes __ a, u, g, c ribose sugar __
leaves the nucleus __ transcription made of nucleotide __
second letter

Explanation:

Step1: Complementary RNA Bases

In RNA, adenine (A) pairs with uracil (U), thymine (T) pairs with adenine (A), cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G), and guanine (G) pairs with cytosine (C). So for DNA bases A, T, C, G, the complementary RNA bases are U, A, G, C respectively.

Step2: Transcription Location

Transcription occurs in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell (or in the cytoplasm of a prokaryotic cell, but typically for this level, nucleus is the answer as it's about eukaryotic cell context here).

Step3: Transcribe DNA to mRNA

Using the base - pairing rules (A→U, T→A, C→G, G→C), we transcribe each base of the DNA strand TAC GGG GAC TTT A G C A.

• T→A
• A→U
• C→G
• G→G
• G→G
• G→G
• A→U
• C→G
• T→A
• T→A
• T→A
• A→U
• G→G
• C→G
• A→U

So the mRNA strand is AUG CCC CUG AAA U C G U.

Step4: DNA vs RNA Characteristics

• Double stranded: DNA is double - stranded, RNA is single - stranded. So "Double stranded" is DNA.
• Single Stranded: RNA is single - stranded, DNA is double - stranded. So "Single Stranded" is RNA.
• Coils into chromosomes: DNA coils into chromosomes, RNA does not. So "Coils into chromosomes" is DNA.
• A, U, G, C: RNA has uracil (U) instead of thymine (T), so the bases of RNA are A, U, G, C. DNA has A, T, G, C. So "A, U, G, C" is RNA.
• Contains Genes: Both DNA and RNA can contain genes (DNA is the main genetic material, but some RNA viruses have RNA as genetic material). So "Contains Genes" is Both.
• Ribose sugar: RNA has ribose sugar, DNA has deoxyribose sugar. So "Ribose sugar" is RNA.
• Made of nucleotide: Both DNA and RNA are made of nucleotides (DNA: deoxyribonucleotides, RNA: ribonucleotides). So "Made of nucleotide" is Both.
• Leaves the nucleus: RNA (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA) leaves the nucleus to the cytoplasm, DNA does not leave the nucleus. So "Leaves the nucleus" is RNA.
• Transcription: Transcription is the process of making RNA from DNA, so it is related to both (as it produces RNA from DNA). But mainly, the process of transcription produces RNA, and DNA is the template. So "Transcription" is related to both (as DNA is transcribed to RNA).

Answer:

• Complementary RNA Bases: U, A, G, C
• Transcription Location: Nucleus (eukaryotic) / Cytoplasm (prokaryotic, but usually nucleus for this context)
• Transcribed mRNA: AUG CCC CUG AAA UCGU
• DNA vs RNA Characteristics:
• Double stranded: DNA
• Single Stranded: RNA
• Coils into chromosomes: DNA
• A, U, G, C: RNA
• Contains Genes: Both
• Ribose sugar: RNA
• Made of nucleotide: Both
• Leaves the nucleus: RNA
• Transcription: Both