DRT3b and the boundary of molecular biology’s central dogma
Quick dive
- Researchers described a DRT3 system in which DRT3a and DRT3b together produce DNA involved in a bacterial anti-phage defence response.
- DRT3a uses bacterial RNA as a template to make one DNA strand, while DRT3b makes the second strand without a nucleic-acid template.
- DRT3b dictates an ordered alternating sequence of cytosine and adenine, written CACACACA, rather than adding random nucleotides.
- The resulting DNA accumulates during phage infection, forces the bacterium into dormancy and prevents phage replication.
- exam_relevance: tests DNA-RNA-protein information flow, reverse transcriptase, terminal transferase and phage defence while requiring the precise conclusion that DRT3b extends but does not overturn the central dogma.
Full explanation
This explanation is available with full current-affairs access.
Log in to continue