Section: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

10) DNA polymerase creates new DNA by adding complimentary nucleotides to a template strand from the original double-stranded DNA. If a section of the template strand had a ration of 3:2 of A:T bases, what is the ration of A:T in the newly synthesized complimentary strand of DNA?

1. 3:2
2. 1:1
3. 2:3
4. cannot be determined

DNA polymerase matches complimentary bases to each base in the template strand. If the template strand has an A:T ratio of 3:2, then the complimentary strand must have an A:T ratio of 2:3 in order to match the complimentary bases with their correct paired nucleotide. That is, each A in the original strand will be matched with a T and vice versa.

1. 3:2, incorrect, This would be true if the complimentary strand matched A:A and T:T.
2. 1:1, incorrect, Complimentary strand bases are paired in the same ratio, but with T in the place of A.
3. 2:3, correct.
4. cannot be determined, incorrect, A:T must be matched with T:A on the complimentary strand.