Question 209 From MCAT 5R

[whachano]

I dont get how we would know this. Is there any trick involved, or is this just something no one will no.

Question 209 MCAT 5R

A researcher has a short polynucleotide strand with the following base sequence: AUCCCUGG. This strand must be:

A.) template DNA
b.) DNA
c.) RNA
D.) A Peptide

Answer turns out to be D, peptide. Obviously not DNA, but I guessed RNA.

Any hints how this is a peptide.

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

i would have guessed RNA

 

[ExplodingBoy]

i dont get how it is a peptide either, but why would you pick DNA over RNA? Uracil only occurs in RNA...

 

[willthatsall]

The anser is C. Final answer. It's very straightforward, your answer key is wrong. It says "polynucleotide", so obviously it is DNA or RNA, not a peptide. The fact that it has U instead of T means it's RNA.

 

[whachano]

I meant RNA, sorry, do'ah, Im not that big of a *****. LOL

But as it stands, its a peptide. How the heck should we analyze that.

 

[ExplodingBoy]

I thought this was really strange, so i looked it up in my 5R answers...

Here is what the 5R annotated answers from AAMC say:

Independent Questions
209. C. Polynucleotide sequences are nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), not peptides (amino acid sequences, choice D is
wrong). Any nucleotide sequence containing U (uracil) must be RNA and not DNA (choices A and B are wrong).

So, yeah, C is right. =P

 

[whachano]

sweet, then i did get it right, sorry, i am a *****

 

[willthatsall]

I meant RNA, sorry, do'ah, Im not that big of a *****. LOL

But as it stands, its a peptide. How the heck should we analyze that.

I just took the test, I'm positive it's RNA. If you answered RNA, give yourself credit.