DNA Replication

Question 1

How does DNA replicate?

Answer 1

Semi-conservative replication

Question 2

What is the process of semi-conservative replication?

Answer 2

— DNA helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds linking the base pairs of DNA
— As a result the double helix separates into 2 strands and unwinds
— Each exposed polynucleotide strand then acts as a template to which complementary free nucleotides bind to specific base pairings
— Nucleotides are joined together during a condensation reaction by DNA polymerase to form the ‘missing’ polynucleotide strand on each of the 2 original polynucleotide strands of DNA
— Each of the new DNA molecules contains one of the original DNA strands, that is, half the original DNA has been saved and built into each of the new DNA molecules

Question 3

What is nuclear division?

Answer 3

Is the process by which the nucleus divides. There are 2 main types of nuclear division: mitosis and meiosis

Question 4

What is cytokinesis?

Answer 4

Follows nuclear division and is the process by which the whole cell divides