Question

Differentiate between a template strand and coding strand of DNA.

Answer 1

Hint: The template strand of DNA serves as a template for synthesis of a complementary RNA transcript. The other strand, the coding strand, is similar to the RNA transcript in sequence, besides that it has uracil (U) bases in the region of thymine (T) bases.

Complete step-by-step solution:
To solve this question, at first, we have to know the structure of DNA and its different types of strands. The DNA strand that mRNA is built from is referred to as the template strand because it serves as a template for transcription. It is also known as the antisense strand. The template strand moves in a 3’ to 5’ direction. The strand of DNA which is no longer used as a template for transcription is known as the coding strand, because it corresponds to the same sequence as the mRNA that will consist of the codon sequences important to build proteins. The only difference between the coding strand and the new mRNA strand is that rather than thymine, uracil takes its place in the mRNA strand. The coding strand is also said as the sense strand.

Sl.No	Template strand	Coding strand
1	Its polarity is from 5' to 3'.	Its polarity is 3' to 5
2	It is transcribed into mRNA.	It is not transcribed into mRNA.
3	It contains anticodon.	It contains the only codon.
4	Contain the same nucleotide sequence as the tRNA.	Contain the complementary nucleotide sequence as the tRNA.

Addition information:
The differentiation between template and coding strand is especially because of the properties like directional polarity and their function. Both are the two different strands of the double-stranded DNA, in which template strand works as a template or base to transcribe mRNA, and the other determines the appropriate base sequence of the mRNA.

Note: For protein synthesis, messenger RNA needs to be made from one strand of DNA known as the template strand. The other side, known as the coding strand, matches the messenger RNA in sequence except for its use of uracil in the region of thymine.