During transcription in eukaryotes, a type of RNA polymerase called RNA polymera

Question

During transcription in eukaryotes, a type of RNA polymerase called RNA polymerase II moves along the template strand of the DNA in the 3'5' direction. However, for any given gene, either strand of the double-stranded DNA may function as the template strand. Which of the following initially determines which DNA strand is the template strand, and therefore in which direction RNA polymerase II moves along the DNA?

A. the location of specific proteins (transcription factors) that bind to the DNA

B. the specific sequence of bases along the DNA strands

C. the location along the chromosome where the double-stranded DNA unwinds

D. the position of the gene’s promoter on the chromosome

E. which of the two strands of DNA carries the RNA primer

Explanation / Answer

I would vote for option B , the specific sequence of bases along the Strand determines if it will be used as a template strand . DNA polymerase or RNA polymerase will attach to the complimentary bases during DNA replication or RNA transcription respectively . They are also called coding and non coding strand . It’s the non coding strand to which RNA polymerase II will bind during transcription and the anti codons will be read and RNA transcript created . As already mentioned it moves in the 3-5 direction along with the transcription bubble ( a short section of unwound DNA near the start of the gene) and polymerisation occurs in 5-3 direction. They unzip and rezip as they move.

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