Question

The enzyme that accomplishes transcription is termed...

a.) DNA polymerase.
b.) RNA polymerase.
c.) DNA ligase.
d.) RNA ligase.
e.) RNA replicase.

Answer 1

The enzyme that accomplishes transcription, where DNA information is copied to RNA, is called RNA polymerase. It operates differently from DNA polymerase as it does not require a primer to start synthesis and incorporates uracil in place of thymine. Therefore, the correct option is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

The enzyme that accomplishes transcription, the process of copying information from DNA to RNA, is called RNA polymerase. During transcription, RNA polymerase binds to a specific sequence on the DNA called a promoter. It unwinds the DNA and starts synthesizing a complementary RNA strand using ribose nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) precursors. This RNA strand is then used as a template for protein synthesis or for other functions within the cell. In contrast to DNA polymerase, which requires a primer to initiate synthesis, RNA polymerase can start RNA synthesis from scratch. Additionally, RNA polymerase incorporates uracil (U) instead of thymine (T) when transcribing RNA.