DNA Structure and Replication

Front

What is a nucleotide?

Back

A nucleotide is the basic building block of DNA and RNA, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a sugar molecule (deoxyribose in DNA), and a phosphate group.

Front

What is the role of deoxyribose sugar in DNA?

Back

Deoxyribose sugar is the sugar component of DNA nucleotides, providing the structural framework for the DNA molecule.

Front

What are nitrogenous bases?

Back

Nitrogenous bases are the components of nucleotides that pair with each other to form the rungs of the DNA ladder; they include adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

Front

What is the function of helicase in DNA replication?

Back

Helicase is an enzyme that unwinds and separates the two strands of DNA during replication.

Front

What is a replication fork?

Back

A replication fork is the area where the DNA double helix is unwound and separated into two single strands during replication.

Front

How many replication forks are formed in a replication bubble?

Back

A replication bubble contains two replication forks.

Front

What is the role of DNA polymerase?

Back

DNA polymerase is the enzyme responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands by adding nucleotides complementary to the template strand.

Front

What is the function of ligase in DNA replication?

Back

Ligase is an enzyme that joins Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand, effectively 'gluing' the DNA fragments together.

Front

In which direction is DNA synthesized?

Back

DNA is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction.

Front

What are Okazaki fragments?

Back

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