Question

An m R N A strand has the following sequence: C A G A U G U A C G G A C G A U A A.
Check all ways below to ensure that the bases in RNA are properly paired.

The template DNA would be 3’ GUCUACAUGCCUGCUAUU 5’.

The mRNA strand is complementary to the DNA template strand.

During transcription, G in DNA pairs with C in mRNA, and A in DNA pairs with U in mRNA.

Answer 1

All three checks are essentially correct but with two clarifications:

1. The given DNA template sequence is the correct complement of the mRNA, but DNA uses T (thymine) not U (uracil). Written with T it is:
3' G T C T A C A T G C C T G C T A T T 5'

2. Yes — the mRNA strand is complementary to the DNA template strand (and is antiparallel: mRNA 5' → 3' pairs with template DNA 3' → 5').

3. The base-pairing rule you gave is correct (G in DNA pairs with C in mRNA, A in DNA pairs with U in mRNA). For completeness: C in DNA pairs with G in mRNA, and T in DNA pairs with A in mRNA.

You can check position-by-position:
mRNA (5' → 3'): C A G A U G U A C G G A C G A U A A
DNA template (3' → 5'): G T C T A C A T G C C T G C T A T T