Question

After proofreading mechanisms have acted, what is the final error rate of DNA replication?

Options

• 1 in 1 billion base pairs

• 3 in 1 billion base pairs

• 3 in 100,000 base pairs

• 1 in 100,000 base pairs

Answer 1

Proofreading reduces the final error rate to 1 in 1 billion base pairs. This represents an enormous improvement over the initial error rate of 3 in 100,000, demonstrating the effectiveness of the repair enzymes within the DNA polymerase complex.