14.3 Basics of DNA Replication

Question 1

DNA polymerase

Answer 1

a.k.k. DNA pol, which adds nucleotides one-by-one to
the growing DNA chain that is complementary to the template strand

Question 2

NTPs

Answer 2

(nucleoside triphosphates)
high-energy molecules that can serve both as the source of DNA nucleotides and the source of energy to drive the
polymerization

Question 3

Single-strand binding proteins

Answer 3

coat the single strands of DNA near the
replication fork to prevent the single-stranded DNA from winding back into a double helix.

Question 4

primase

Answer 4

synthesizes an RNA segment that is about five to ten nucleotides long and complementary to the template DNA

Question 5

primer

Answer 5

short stretch of nucleotides that is required to
initiate replication; in the case of replication, the primer

Question 6

leading strand

Answer 6

strand that is synthesized continuously in the 5’-3’ direction, which is synthesized in the direction of
the replication fork

Question 7

Okazaki fragments

Answer 7

DNA fragment that is synthesized in
short stretches on the lagging strand

Question 8

lagging strand

Answer 8

during replication, the strand that is
replicated in short fragments and away from the
replication fork

Question 9

sliding clamp

Answer 9

holds the DNA polymerase in place as it continues to add nucleotides

Question 10

DNA ligase

Answer 10

Seals the gaps between the Okazaki fragments to create one continuous DNA strand

Question 11

telomerase

Answer 11

enzyme that contains a catalytic part and an
inbuilt RNA template; it functions to maintain telomeres
at chromosome ends