DNA Reverse Complement Flashcards

Practice finding DNA reverse complements, reading 5′ and 3′ labels, and locating exact matches on either DNA strand.

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Start by pairing DNA bases and labeling the ends of the complementary strand. Then find reverse complements, work backward to the original sequence, and spot when a wrong answer skipped the pairing or the reversal.

Use the same direction check to find exact matches on the + and − strands and give their positions on the printed reference. You’ll also see how a reverse-complement palindrome can match both strands at the same span.

Every sequence example is original and artificial. The cards use A, C, G, and T and exact matches so you can focus on strand direction. RNA, approximate searches, and primer design need additional rules and are outside the scope.

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  1. Ikhadi 1

    Umbuzo

    In double-stranded DNA, which bases pair with adenine (A) and cytosine (C), respectively?

    Impendulo

    Thymine (T) pairs with A. Guanine (G) pairs with C.

  2. Ikhadi 2

    Umbuzo

    Two DNA strands are aligned base by base. The top strand has its 5′ end on the left. Which end of the bottom strand is on the left?

    Impendulo

    The 3′ end. The strands are antiparallel, so their directions are opposite.

  3. Ikhadi 3

    Umbuzo

    Write the complementary DNA strand directly below 5′–CATGGA–3′, pairing the bases in the same columns. Label its ends.

    Impendulo

    3′–GTACCT–5′

    The aligned partner runs 3′ to 5′ from left to right.

  4. Ikhadi 4

    Umbuzo

    A DNA strand is written 5′ to 3′. How do you get its reverse complement?

    Impendulo

    Pair each base, then read the paired bases in reverse order. The result gives the partner strand from its 5′ end to its 3′ end.

  5. Ikhadi 5

    Umbuzo

    What is the reverse complement of 5′–GTTCA–3′?

    Impendulo

    5′–TGAAC–3′

    The aligned partner is 3′–CAAGT–5′. Read it from the right.

  6. Ikhadi 6

    Umbuzo

    Which two bases fill the blanks in the bottom DNA strand, from left to right?

    5′–G C T A G–3′
    3′–C _ A _ C–5′
    

    Impendulo

    G, then T. They pair with C and A in the top strand.

    The completed bottom strand is 3′–CGATC–5′.

  7. Ikhadi 7

    Umbuzo

    Write the same DNA strand 5′ to 3′ if it is shown as 3′–TGGAC–5′.

    Impendulo

    5′–CAGGT–3′

    Start from the right. The bases stay the same because you're reading the same strand.

  8. Ikhadi 8

    Umbuzo

    Write the strand that pairs with 3′–ACCTGA–5′. Give your answer 5′ to 3′.

    Impendulo

    5′–TGGACT–3′

    The aligned partner already has its 5′ end on the left.

  9. Ikhadi 9

    Umbuzo

    Someone gives CGTGAC as the reverse complement of 5′–CAGTGC–3′. What step did they miss?

    Impendulo

    They still need to complement each base. CGTGAC is the original sequence read backward. The reverse complement is 5′–GCACTG–3′.

  10. Ikhadi 10

    Umbuzo

    A DNA strand ends with G at its 3′ end. What is the first base of its reverse complement, written 5′ to 3′?

    Impendulo

    C. The original 3′ end lines up with the partner's 5′ end, and C pairs with G.

  11. Ikhadi 11

    Umbuzo

    Write the reverse complement of 5′–ACGCTAA–3′.

    Impendulo

    5′–TTAGCGT–3′

    Pair the bases to get 3′–TGCGATT–5′, then read from the right.

  12. Ikhadi 12

    Umbuzo

    Is 5′–AGCATGCT–3′ a reverse-complement palindrome?

    Impendulo

    Yes. Its reverse complement is 5′–AGCATGCT–3′ again.

  13. Ikhadi 13

    Umbuzo

    Someone gives AGGCAT as the reverse complement of 5′–TCCGTA–3′. What step did they miss?

    Impendulo

    They still need to reverse the order. AGGCAT is the aligned partner read 3′ to 5′. Read it from the other end to get 5′–TACGGA–3′.

  14. Ikhadi 14

    Umbuzo

    A DNA strand's reverse complement is 5′–CGAACTG–3′. What was the original sequence, written 5′ to 3′?

    Impendulo

    5′–CAGTTCG–3′

    Taking the reverse complement a second time restores the original sequence.

  15. Ikhadi 15

    Umbuzo

    Find the exact + strand match to 5′–GATA–3′ on the printed + reference 5′–TCGGATACCAA–3′. Count the leftmost reference base as position 1 and include both ends of the match.

    Impendulo

    Positions 4–7 (+). Those bases read GATA from left to right.

  16. Ikhadi 16

    Umbuzo

    You split a 5′→3′ DNA sequence into a left block and a right block. Which block provides the 5′ end of the reverse complement?

    Impendulo

    The right block. The original 3′ end is on the right, across from the partner's 5′ end.

  17. Ikhadi 17

    Umbuzo

    An exact DNA query matches the + strand at reference positions 4–8. Which reference position holds the query's 5′ end?

    Impendulo

    Position 4. The query runs left to right on the + strand.

  18. Ikhadi 18

    Umbuzo

    To find a − strand match to 5′–GCTAC–3′, what sequence should you look for on the printed 5′→3′ + reference?

    Impendulo

    5′–GTAGC–3′

    That's the reverse complement of the query.

  19. Ikhadi 19

    Umbuzo

    Can a five-base DNA sequence made from A, C, G, and T equal its own reverse complement?

    Impendulo

    No. Its middle base would have to pair with itself, and each of those four bases pairs with a different base.

  20. Ikhadi 20

    Umbuzo

    Search the printed + reference 5′–ACTAGGATTCCTAGT–3′ for 5′–CTAGG–3′ on either strand. Give each exact match's strand and 1-based inclusive reference positions.

    Impendulo

    Positions 2–6 (+) and 10–14 (−).

    The reference has CTAGG at 2–6 and CCTAG, the query's reverse complement, at 10–14.

  21. Ikhadi 21

    Umbuzo

    One base in the bottom DNA strand is paired incorrectly. Which base should replace it, and at what position from the left?

    5′–A T C G C–3′
    3′–T A A C G–5′
    

    Impendulo

    G at position 3. The top strand has C there.

    The corrected bottom strand is 3′–TAGCG–5′.

  22. Ikhadi 22

    Umbuzo

    A window on the printed + reference is 5′–CGAG–3′. Does its − strand exactly match the query 5′–CTCA–3′?

    Impendulo

    No. The − strand at that span reads 5′–CTCG–3′. Its last base differs from the query.

  23. Ikhadi 23

    Umbuzo

    Find the exact − strand match to 5′–CCGA–3′ on the printed + reference 5′–GACTCGGAATC–3′. Give the 1-based inclusive reference positions.

    Impendulo

    Positions 4–7 (−). The printed bases at 4–7 are TCGG. The opposite strand reads CCGA in the 5′→3′ direction.

  24. Ikhadi 24

    Umbuzo

    An exact DNA query matches the − strand at reference positions 6–10. Which reference position holds the query's 5′ end?

    Impendulo

    Position 10. The query runs right to left on the − strand.

  25. Ikhadi 25

    Umbuzo

    A query of 5′–CGCG–3′ exactly matches the + strand at reference positions 3–6. How many strands match at that same span?

    Impendulo

    Two. CGCG equals its own reverse complement, so positions 3–6 match on both strands.

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DNA Reverse Complement Flashcards

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