In which direction is the DNA molecule read?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the direction in which DNA is read during processes such as transcription and replication, which typically refers to the 5' to 3' direction.
Answer
3' to 5'
The DNA molecule is read in the 3' to 5' direction during transcription.
Answer for screen readers
The DNA molecule is read in the 3' to 5' direction during transcription.
More Information
During transcription, RNA polymerase reads the DNA template strand in the 3' to 5' direction to synthesize mRNA in the 5' to 3' direction.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the direction of reading the DNA template with the direction of synthesizing the new RNA strand. The DNA is read 3' to 5', but RNA is synthesized 5' to 3'.
Sources
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