DNA Replication Flashcards
What are the 4 enzymes used in DNA repliacation?
- Helicase
- RNA Primer
- DNA Polymerase
- DNA Ligase
What does the DNA helicase do?
Breaks the hydrogen bonds between bases to unzip DNA
What does DNA polymerase do?
Attaches the free nucleotides to form the daughter strand in a 5’ to 3’ direction
What does the RNA primer do?
Attaches a small piece of RNA to show the DNA polymerase where to start attaching the free nucleotides
What does DNA ligase do?
Removes and replaces RNA primers and chemically joins the strand
What is the difference between the leading and lagging strands?
The leading strand can be fed through the DNA polymerase and replication can occur continuously, the lagging strand doesn’t allow the DNA polymerase to continuously add nucleotides as it is in the opposite direction. So chunks of nucleotides are attached in Okazaki fragments.
Define chromosome
Structure made of DNA and proteins carrying genetic information
When does DNA replication occur?
During the synthesis phase of the cell cycle
