Chapter 16 The Molecular Basis Of Inheritance

Question 0

DNA Polymerase

Answer 0

The DNA polymerases are enzymes that create DNA molecules by assembling nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA.

Question 1

DNA Ligase

Answer 1

In molecular biology, DNA ligase is a specific type of enzyme, a ligase, that facilitates the joining of DNA strands together by catalyzing the formation of a phosphodiester bond.

Question 2

Okazaki fragments

Answer 2

Okazaki fragments are short, newly synthesized DNA fragments that are formed on the lagging template strand during DNA replication.

Question 3

Leading vs lagging strand

Answer 3

The leading strand is the strand of nascent DNA which is being synthesized in the same direction as the growing replication fork. A polymerase “reads” the leading strand template and adds complementary nucleotides to the nascent leading strand on a continuous basis.

The lagging strand is the strand of nascent DNA whose direction of synthesis is opposite to the direction of the growing replication fork. Because of its orientation, replication of the lagging strand is more complicated than that of the leading strand.

Question 4

Topoisomerase

Answer 4

Topoisomerases are enzymes that regulate the overwinding or underwinding of DNA

Question 5

Primer

Answer 5

A primer is a strand of nucleic acid that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis.

Question 6

Replication fork

Answer 6

The replication fork is a structure that forms within the nucleus during DNA replication.

Question 7

Helicase

Answer 7

Helicases are a class of enzymes vital to all living organisms. Their main function is to unpackage an organism’s genes.