An old DNA strand is used as a _____ for the assembly of a new DNA strand.?

0% a. complement


b. primer


c. template


d. source of nucleotides


e. model





I was pretty sure it was A. lol but I got it wrong on the test. Can somone please give me the right answer? thank you

An old DNA strand is used as a _____ for the assembly of a new DNA strand.?
Template.





You are confusing it with the idea of a complementary strand.


Try and picture in your head what is happening - there is one strand of DNA, and because A always pairs with T and G always pairs with C, then the other DNA strand can be synthesised.





The sequence of the second strand is worked out from the first strand, that is why it is called a template. But because it has the opposite kind of base in each pair, it is called complementary.





Does that help? Email me if you are still confused.
Reply:Yep, its a template - its called semi-conservative replication.
Reply:Template
Reply:I'm pretty sure its C. a template
Reply:c. template
Reply:c
Reply:It's used as a template, and a new DNA strand that is complementary to this template is made.