DNA Replication :
Where and When does replication occur?
Where - If in the Eukaryotic Cell, it occurs in in the nucleus
When - Before the cell divides, so the offspring also gets a copy
-before mitosis or meiosis (interphase)
Key Players
DNA Polymerase - replicates and builds new DNA strand
Steps of Replication
Helicase - unwinds DNA helix and breaks hydrogen bonds
Primase - lets polymerase know where to start
Ligase - binds bases together that polymerase matched up
Starting Point of Replication Starting on the DNA Molecule
Starts at the Origin
Identified by certain DNA sequences
SSB Proteins (single stranded binded proteins)
Job - bind to the DNA strands to keep them separated
Direction DNA Polymerase Builds
- Helicase first unwinds the DNA
- Primase makes RNA primers on both strands
- DNA Polymerase builds the new strand in 5' to 3' direction
- Ligase takes care of the gaps in between the Okazaki fragments, sealing them together
4 Bases in a DNA Molecule
4 bases (A and T) (C and G)
Adenine
Thymine
Cytosine
Guanine
-Builds new strand in the 5' to 3' direction
Leading and Lagging Strands
Leading Strand - built in 5' to 3' direction
Lagging Strand - built in 3' to 5' direction
Primers have to keep being paced in order for DNA Polymerase build
Mistake in Replication
If DNA Polymerase matches the wrong DNA bases, then there could be an incorrectly coded gene
This could end up in an incorrect protein or no protein.
DNA Polymerase minimizes the amount of errors because of its proofreading ability, so it rarely makes a mistake