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DNA helicase is the main enzyme responsible for splitting the two strands of DNA (or 'unzipping' the DNA). This allows DNA polymerase to come along and copy the DNA, by joining free nucleotides (A, T, C, G) to the template strand of DNA. This is how a new strand of DNA is created.

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What enzyme builds new DNA strands from existing strands during DNA replication?

DNA Polymerase III is responsible for adding new nucleotides to the strand being synthesised. Also involved in DNA replication are DNA Polymerase I which replaces primers with nucleotides, and DNA Ligase which joins fragments of DNA together.


What molecule will proofread the new DNA strands?

RNA polymerase is the enzyme that connect the new nucleotides together and proofreads them.


What is the enzyme that controls the synthesis of new strands of DNA called?

DNA polymerase


In what direction can DNA polymerase only build?

DNA polymerase can only build new DNA strands in the 5' to 3' direction.


What enzymes are responsible for replication of the DNA molecule?

Helicase is the enzymes that splits the double helix into two separate strands, and DNA Polymerase (as opposed to RNA Polymerase) joins the nucleotides together in the new strands being created.


Why does DNA polymerase require a primer for initiating the synthesis of new DNA strands?

DNA polymerase requires a primer to initiate the synthesis of new DNA strands because it can only add nucleotides onto an existing strand of DNA. The primer provides a starting point for the polymerase to begin adding nucleotides and building the new DNA strand.


What enzyme is responsible for catalyzing the formation of the two new DNA strands?

DNA polymerases


What is the difference between helicase and polymerase in DNA replication?

Helicase is an enzyme that unwinds the double-stranded DNA during replication, while polymerase is an enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the template strand. In simpler terms, helicase unzips the DNA, while polymerase builds new strands.


What role do nucleotides play in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)?

Nucleotides serve as the building blocks for creating new DNA strands during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They are incorporated by the DNA polymerase enzyme to extend the DNA strands, allowing for the amplification of specific DNA sequences.


Two new strands of DNA molecules grow as bases are added by the enzyme?

DNA polymerase during DNA replication. Each new strand is complementary to the original template strand and forms a double helix structure.


The site where the old DNA strands separate and new DNA strands will be synthesized is called the?

The site where the old DNA strands separate and new DNA strands are synthesized is called the replication fork. This is where the enzyme DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand.


Is RNA polymerase used in both leading and lagging strands of DNA replication?

No, RNA polymerase is not used in both leading and lagging strands of DNA replication. RNA polymerase is responsible for transcribing DNA into RNA during gene expression, while DNA polymerase is responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands during replication. DNA polymerase is used on both the leading and lagging strands during DNA replication.