Question

Which characteristic of a replicating RNA polymerase allows multiple transcripts to be made simultaneously from the same region of DNA?

A. The RNA transcript dissociates from the DNA template immediately once complete.

B. RNA polymerase is very small.

C. RNA remains bound to the gene and helps template more transcripts.

D. RNA polymerases can jump over slower RNA polymerases to make more transcript.

Answer 1

The RNA transcript dissociates from the DNA template immediately once complete, allowing multiple RNA polymerases to transcribe the same gene consecutively, resulting in simultaneous production of multiple transcripts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristic of a replicating RNA polymerase that allows multiple transcripts to be made simultaneously from the same region of DNA is A. The RNA transcript dissociates from the DNA template immediately once complete. After the RNA polymerase has finished transcribing a gene, it encounters specific sequences in the DNA which act as termination signals. These signals cause the RNA polymerase to stall and subsequently release from the DNA template, thereby freeing the RNA transcript. This dissociation allows another RNA polymerase to bind to the DNA and begin transcribing again, leading to multiple RNA transcripts being produced from the same DNA template simultaneously.

Such a process is crucial, especially in bacteria, where multiple polymerases can transcribe a single gene while numerous ribosomes concurrently translate the mRNA transcripts into polypeptides. This highly efficient mechanism ensures that a specific protein can quickly reach high concentrations within the bacterial cell.