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Q16 - Diagnosing Missing DNA Replication Enzymes from Failed In Vitro Experiments

Theoretical 2 Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
DNA Structure & Replication

In order to teach the principles and techniques of DNA replication, professor A instructed graduate students B and C to reproduce the classic experiment of replicating DNA in vitro by properly mixing nucleic acids and proteins individually purified from E. coli cells. Result of student B: Long single-stranded DNA fragments and short single-stranded DNA fragments with attached RNA fragments were replicated, but complete double-stranded DNA was not replicated. Result of student C: Long single-stranded DNA fragments and many short single-stranded fragments were replicated, but complete double-stranded DNA was not. Possible causes: R1/R4: failed to add polymerase I. R2/R5: failed to add polymerase III. R3/R6: failed to add DNA ligase.

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

student B and C causes. Choose the combination of the number that most likely caused the failures of students B and C.
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Question reproduced from IBO 2020, Theoretical Exam 2, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)