Which of the following is the BEST explanation of the role of DNA and RNA in making proteins?

a
DNA unwinds into two separate strands, and a complementary copy of each is produced during replication. During transcription, a DNA strand is used to produce a complementary strand of mRNA, with uracil taking the place of thymine. During translation, each set of three bases in the mRNA results in an amino acid being added to a chain, and a protein is formed.
b
DNA unwinds into two separate strands, and an exact copy of each is produced during replication. During transcription, a DNA strand is copied to produce mRNA, which is an exact copy of the DNA strand except that uracil takes the place of thymine. During translation, each set of three bases in the mRNA results in a protein with a specialized function being formed.
c
DNA unwinds into two separate strands, and a complementary copy of each is produced during replication. During transcription, a DNA strand is used to produce a complementary strand of mRNA, with uracil taking the place of adenine. During translation, each base in the mRNA results in an amino acid being added to a chain, and a protein is formed.
d
DNA unwinds into two separate strands, and an exact copy of each is produced during replication. During translation, a DNA strand is used to produce a complementary strand of mRNA, with uracil taking the place of thymine. During transcription, each set of three codons in the mRNA results in an amino acid being added to a chain, and a protein is formed.

1 answer

The BEST explanation of the role of DNA and RNA in making proteins is:

a
DNA unwinds into two separate strands, and a complementary copy of each is produced during replication. During transcription, a DNA strand is used to produce a complementary strand of mRNA, with uracil taking the place of thymine. During translation, each set of three bases in the mRNA results in an amino acid being added to a chain, and a protein is formed.

This option accurately describes the process of DNA replication, transcription to mRNA, and translation into proteins. It correctly identifies the substitution of uracil for thymine in RNA and explains how sets of three bases (codons) on the mRNA correspond to amino acids during protein synthesis. The other options have inaccuracies related to the processes involved.