Key Area 2: Replication of DNA Flashcards
Is DNA replication fully conservative, semi-conservative, or non-conservative?
Semi-conservative.
What is meant by the term semi-conservative?
two copies of the original DNA molecule are produced, each copy conserving (replicating) the information from one half of the original DNA molecule.
What is mitosis?
A process where a cell undergoes cellular division.
What is a daughter cell?
The type of cell produced when a cell undergoes cellular division
What substances must be present within the nucleus for DNA replication to occur?
A DNA template, a pool of DNA nucleotide bases, enzymes, primers and ATP.
What is the first stage in DNA replication?
The parental DNA is unwound to form a replication fork
What is the second stage in DNA replication?
A primer is attached to the 3’ end of the parental DNA strand. DNA polymerase then adds free nucleotides to the template strands of the replication fork.
What is the third stage of DNA replication?
DNA polymerase catalyses the formation of a chemical bond between nucleotides and adds nucleotides to the 3’ end of the growing strand.
What is the fourth stage of DNA replication?
A primer binds to the DNA and and DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the 3’ end of the lagging strand. The old primer is replaced by DNA and the enzyme DNA ligase joins the fragments together.
What is the Leading strand of DNA?
A strand of DNA that replicates from 3’ to 5’. DNA is continuously added to this strand
What is the lagging strand of DNA?
A strand of DNA that replicates from 3’ to 5’, however it is discontinuous because it replicates away from the replication fork.
What is the term continuous?
It is when the DNA is replicated without being interrupted.
What is the term discontinuous?
It is when the DNA is replicated intermittedly, as it takes place on the lagging strand.
What is a PCR?
Polymerase Chain Reaction - the amplification of a single sequence of DNA into many more identical copies in vitro.
What does in vitro mean?
Latin for “in tube”, used to describe when something is happening outside of the body in lab apparatus.
