Question

Please answer the following questions:

1) RNA is more flexible than proteins. Explain what might be meant by this statement.

2) Explain why DNA can form "hairpins".

3) why does a plasmid include an origin of replication?

4) How does cDNA differ from a gene in the genome?

Answer 1

Explanation of statements,

1) RNA has a less stable sugar in its structure which makes it more easily hydrolyzable and is known as more flexible than proteins.

2) DNA can easily form hairpins due to enhanced secondary interactions present between the sheets. This makes the resulting hairpins more stable and thus theyr prefer a hairpin formation.

3) Plasmids which are a small fragment of DNA with necessary units for self-replication and is mostly found in bacteria which are known to replicate quickly.

4) cDNA or complimentary DNa are formed by a reverse transcriptase of mRNA found in prokaryotic cells. These then can replicate as in bacterial cells. On the other hand, a normal DNA replicate by transcription onto a mRNA directly.