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Questions and Answers
What role does helicase play in DNA replication?
What role does helicase play in DNA replication?
Helicase acts as the 'unzipping enzyme' that breaks hydrogen bonds between DNA bases, separating the two strands.
How does DNA polymerase contribute to the replication process?
How does DNA polymerase contribute to the replication process?
DNA polymerase is the 'builder' that copies DNA molecules to create new strands, moving in the 5’-3’ direction.
Explain the difference between the leading strand and the lagging strand during DNA replication.
Explain the difference between the leading strand and the lagging strand during DNA replication.
The leading strand builds continuously in the 5’-3’ direction, while the lagging strand builds in fragments known as Okazaki fragments, starting from the new strand.
What is the role of primase in the process of DNA replication?
What is the role of primase in the process of DNA replication?
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Describe the function of ligase during DNA replication.
Describe the function of ligase during DNA replication.
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Study Notes
DNA Replication Overview
- DNA replication occurs in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes
- In eukaryotes, replication occurs inside the nucleus
- Replication happens during interphase, before cell division
- Daughter cells receive a copy of the DNA
- Enzymes are key components of DNA replication
- Enzymes speed up chemical reactions in the body, building and breaking down substances
- Replication starts at origins, which have specific DNA sequences
Key Components of DNA Replication
- Helicase: The "unzipping enzyme" that breaks hydrogen bonds between DNA strands
- Single-Strand Binding Proteins (SSBs): Hold the separated strands apart
- Topoisomerase: Prevents DNA from supercoiling (overwinding) during replication
- Primase: The "instructor"; creates short RNA primers to initiate DNA replication
- DNA Polymerase: The "builder"; adds new nucleotides to the growing DNA strand
- DNA polymerase can only move in the 5' to 3' direction, but DNA is antiparallel so builds on the lagging strand in small fragments (Okazaki Fragments)
- Ligase: The "gluer"; joins Okazaki fragments together, completing the lagging strand.
Leading and Lagging Strands
- Leading strand: Synthesized continuously in the 5' to 3' direction, following the replication fork.
- Lagging strand: Synthesized discontinuously in the 5' to 3' direction in small fragments (Okazaki fragments). These fragments are then joined by ligase.
Okazaki Fragments
- Short fragments of DNA on the lagging strand.
- Primers are required to initiate the formation of each Okazaki fragment.
- Fragments are joined by DNA ligase to form a continuous lagging strand.
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Description
This quiz covers the fundamental processes of DNA replication, including the roles of key enzymes involved in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Understand how DNA is replicated during interphase and the importance of specific DNA sequences at origins. Test your knowledge on the functions of helicase, primase, and DNA polymerase.
