What is important about the DNA template strand?

Answer 1

The template and non-template strands of DNA are complementary.

This means that if a T (thymine)occurs on one strand, there must be an A (adenine) in that position on the other strand, and that C (cytosine) is always opposite G (guanine), following the rules of complementary base pairing.

There are other names for the two strands, but Googling them shows there is a lot of confusion out there! The terms "template strand" and "non-template stand" seem to be the only ones that everyone uses consistently. The template strand is the strand along which messenger RNA is synthesized, and has, of course, a base sequence complementary to that of the RNA.

The term "gene" is often applied to the non-template strand, the argument being that the non-template DNA strand and the mRNA have the same base sequence (except that where DNA has T, RNA has U, uracil).

In transcription, RNAP uses template strand to make a copy of mRNA. Complementary to template strand is the coding strand, which sequence is identical to mRNA sequence except for the substitution of U for T. Although the coding strand is not used as a template for common transcription events, it is called coding because its sequence is used as a copy in mRNA sequence. For the case of "sense", terminologically template strand is called antisense, and coding strand is called the sense strand.

Template/non-coding/antisense

Non-template/coding/sense

Many people confuse complementary sequences with palindromic sequence which you can find in restriction system recognition sequences. Although the template strand yields a sense (functional) sequence in mRNA and thus a properly-folded protein, the complementary strand of it, non-template strand upon being transcribed yields a totally different and non-functional protein. However in terms of transcription of palindrome, both strands yield the same mRNA sequence, thus the same protein.

Coding strand of a particular gene can be on one of either two strands of DNA, and thus this applies to the opposite strand of the said strand for the non-coding strand. The direction of transcription on a double-stranded DNA depends on whether the upper or lower strand is being transcribed. Therefore on a linearised genome, transcription occurs to the left for certain genes and to the right for the remaining genes.

Answer 2

It contains in a linear fashion, just Three Bases at a time [ the Triplet Codon ], the information that 'decides' the order of the assembly of individual amino acids - one triplet codon for each amino acid - into the nascent (newly formed) protein chain.

Answer 3

DNA tells a cell what to do RNA helps to carry it out

In other words, they are complementary.

Answer 4

the DNA template strand is essential in the creation of mRNA, which is the basis of protein sythesis

Answer 5

The mRNA is complementary and runs in the reverse direction relative to 5' and 3'.