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Question
The molecule needed to allow a cell to transfer genetic information from RNA to DNA is ______.
Options
DNA polymerase
RNA polymerase
reverse transcriptase
chlorophyll
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Solution
The molecule needed to allow a cell to transfer genetic information from RNA to DNA is reverse transcriptase.
Explanation:
This enzyme synthesizes a DNA molecule using RNA as a template, enabling the conversion of RNA back into DNA. This process is essential for retroviruses and certain genetic engineering techniques. Unlike DNA polymerase or RNA polymerase, which synthesize DNA from DNA or RNA from DNA respectively, reverse transcriptase uniquely catalyzes the formation of DNA from RNA templates, facilitating the transfer of genetic information in the reverse direction of normal transcription.
