Chains of nucleic acids have directionality and are read in a certain way just like languages are read from "left to right" or "right to left." dna is always read in , 3' to 5' or 5' to 3' whereas rna is read in , 3' to 5' or 5' to 3'

When DNA is replicated it is read by the DNA polymerase in the 3’ to 5’ direction, but it is built in the 5’ to 3’ direction.

When mRNA is made from DNA, the RNA polymerase reads the DNA in the 3’ to 5’ direction. But it too is built in the 5’ to 3’ direction.

The mRNA is read by the ribosome in the 5’ to 3’ direction.

So I would
DNA 3’-5’
RNA 5’-3’

The first means of speeding up reactions mentioned by the speaker is raising the enzymes 

It is maybe photosnyethsis