DNA Replication

Front

What is DNA replication?

Back

DNA replication is the process by which a cell makes an identical copy of its DNA, ensuring that each new cell receives a complete set of genetic information.

Front

What are the main enzymes involved in DNA replication?

Back

The main enzymes involved in DNA replication are helicase, primase, DNA polymerase, and ligase.

Front

What is the role of helicase in DNA replication?

Back

Helicase unwinds and separates the double-stranded DNA into two single strands, allowing replication to occur.

Front

What is the function of primase in DNA replication?

Back

Primase synthesizes a short RNA primer that provides a starting point for DNA polymerase to begin DNA synthesis.

Front

What is the role of DNA polymerase?

Back

DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand during replication, ensuring the new strand is complementary to the template strand.

Front

What is the significance of the leading and lagging strands in DNA replication?

Back

The leading strand is synthesized continuously in the direction of the replication fork, while the lagging strand is synthesized in short segments (Okazaki fragments) away from the fork.

Front

What are Okazaki fragments?

Back

Okazaki fragments are short sequences of DNA nucleotides synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication.

Front

What is the DNA backbone made of?

Back

The DNA backbone is made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups.

Front

What are the base pairing rules in DNA?

Back

In DNA, adenine pairs with thymine (A-T) and guanine pairs with cytosine (G-C).

Front

What is the role of single-stranded binding proteins?

Back

Single-stranded binding proteins bind to the separated DNA strands to prevent them from re-annealing or twisting back together.