Exploring DNA Replication Concepts

The video tutorial explains DNA replication, a crucial process for cell division, ensuring equal DNA distribution in new cells. It covers the roles of key enzymes like helicase, primase, polymerase, and ligase in unwinding DNA, setting primers, synthesizing new strands, and joining fragments. The tutorial distinguishes between leading and lagging strands, highlighting the directional nature of DNA polymerase and the formation of Okazaki fragments. It also introduces the replication fork and the semiconservative model, where each new DNA molecule consists of one old and one new strand.

Why is it important for cells to replicate their DNA before division?

• To increase the cell's size

• To remove old DNA

• To create more proteins

• To ensure each new cell has a complete set of DNA

What is the first step in DNA replication?

• Setting primers

• Synthesizing new strands

• Unwinding the double helix

• Gluing fragments together

What is the role of DNA helicase in replication?

• To set primers

• To synthesize new strands

• To glue fragments together

• To unzip the DNA strands

Which enzyme lays down primers on the DNA strand?

• Primase

• Ligase

• Polymerase

• Helicase

What does DNA polymerase do during replication?

• Unwinds the DNA

• Adds matching base pairs

• Glues fragments together

• Lays down primers

How does DNA polymerase read the DNA strand?

• 5' to 3'

• 3' to 5'

• Randomly

• Both directions

What is the difference between the leading and lagging strands?

• Leading strand is synthesized continuously, lagging strand in fragments

• Both are synthesized in fragments

• Leading strand is synthesized in fragments, lagging strand continuously

• Both are synthesized continuously

What are Okazaki fragments?

• Enzymes involved in replication

• Short DNA fragments on the lagging strand

• Fragments of RNA

• Continuous DNA strands

What is the role of DNA ligase?

• Synthesizes new strands

• Glues DNA fragments together

• Unwinds the DNA

• Lays down primers

What does 'semiconservative' mean in DNA replication?

• Both strands are old

• DNA is not replicated

• Both strands are new

• Each new DNA molecule has one old and one new strand