Question:

Which of the following usually requires an RNA intermediate for cloning or replication?

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Think of the element that can move via a retrotransposition (RNA) route.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Transposons
  • Plasmids
  • Phages
  • Cosmids
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Transposons (Tn) are mobile DNA segments that move from one site to another on the same or a different chromosome. Their movement is mediated by transposase, an enzyme they encode.

Step 2: In eukaryotes, including humans, replicative transposition frequently proceeds through an RNA intermediate. The DNA is transcribed to RNA, then reverse-transcribed back to DNA before insertion at a new site. Such elements are called retrotransposons.

Step 3: Plasmids, phages, and cosmids replicate as DNA and do not require an RNA intermediate for their propagation. Hence the element that uses an RNA intermediate is the transposon.
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