The function of reverse transcriptase is to

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Reverse transcriptase synthesizes DNA using an RNA template — in other words, it copies RNA into DNA.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Central dogma of molecular biology: DNA -> RNA -> protein (replication, transcription, translation).
- Reverse transcriptase (RT) is an enzyme that reverses the usual flow by making complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template; this is characteristic of retroviruses (e.g., HIV) and certain cellular enzymes (telomerase has reverse transcriptase activity).
- Laboratory use: reverse transcription is used to make cDNA for RT-PCR and cloning.

2) Complete step-by-step reasoning
- RT binds an RNA template (for example, a retroviral genomic RNA or an mRNA).
- A short primer is provided (often a tRNA in retroviruses, or an oligo(dT)/random primer in the lab).
- RT incorporates deoxyribonucleotides (dATP, dTTP, dGTP, dCTP) complementary to the RNA bases, synthesizing a DNA strand complementary to the RNA (the first DNA strand, or cDNA).
- RNase H activity (part of many RTs) degrades the RNA in the RNA–DNA hybrid.
- A second DNA strand is synthesized using the cDNA as template, yielding double-stranded DNA derived from the original RNA.

3) Intermediate steps (base pairing detail)
- RNA bases A, U, G, C pair with DNA bases T, A, C, G respectively during synthesis (U in RNA corresponds to A in DNA pairing).

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- Reverse transcriptase’s defining biochemical activity is converting RNA information into DNA form; that is precisely “copy RNA into DNA.”

5) Why the other options are incorrect
- “copy DNA into RNA.” describes transcription, carried out by RNA polymerase, not reverse transcriptase.
- “translate RNA into protein.” is translation, performed by ribosomes and tRNAs, not an enzyme called reverse transcriptase.
- “translate DNA into protein.” is not accurate biochemically (translation uses mRNA as template); no enzyme directly translates DNA into protein.

6) Conclusion
The correct choice is “copy RNA into DNA.” This matches the provided answer.

The function of reverse transcriptase is to单项选择题

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