Question

Given below is a short sequence of DNA describing the base pairs on each strand of DNA. What is so special about it?
5’___ GAATTC ___ 3’
3’ ___ CTTAAG ___ 5’

• A. Replication completed
• B. Deletion mutation
• C. Start codon at the 5’ end
• D. Palindromic sequence of base pairs

Answer 1

The correct option is D Palindromic sequence of base pairs

The palindromes in DNA are base pair sequences that are the same when read forward (left to right) or backward (right to left) from a central axis of symmetry. The given sequences read the same in the $5^{\prime }\to 3^{\prime }$ direction and in the $3^{\prime }\to 5^{\prime }$ direction. Palindromic sequences are the recognition sites of a special type of enzymes called restriction endonucleases that cleave the DNA strand at that specific portion.