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A replication fork is the mechanism by which a strand of DNA is synthesized. If you can imagine a strand of DNA unwound, then it would resemble a ladder. Unzip the DNA and it now looks like a fork, ie fork in road, not eating fork. There is a Leading strand, which is synthesised easily. USing DNA polymerase which 'reads' along the strand in the 3' to 5' direction on the strand, producing a replication strand in the 5' to 3' direction. The opposite strand is called the lagging strand, and this is slightly more complicated. DNA polymerase cannot read in the 5' to 3' direction on the template strand. Thus DNA primase is used to read the strand and replicate small RNA segments, called Okazaki fragments. The lagging strand has no been copied into many small strands of RNA, or Okazaki fragments. Next DNA polymerase comes along and replaces all the RNA nucleotides with DNA nucleotides. ANd finally DNA ligase 'stitches' all the small fragments into one long strand.
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Compare the number of replication forks in prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA during replication?
Prokaryotic DNA replication has a single origin of replication, leading to two replication forks. In contrast, eukaryotic DNA replication has multiple origins of replication, resulting in multiple replication forks forming along the DNA molecule.
Do replication forks speed up replication?
Yes, replication forks do speed up the replication process by allowing DNA synthesis to occur simultaneously in both directions around the circular DNA molecule in prokaryotes or at the two replication forks in eukaryotes. This helps to expedite the replication process and minimize the time needed for DNA replication.
Differentiate the number of replication forks in prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA?
Prokaryotic DNA replication typically proceeds bidirectionally from a single origin of replication, resulting in two replication forks. Eukaryotic DNA replication is more complex due to multiple origins of replication, leading to many replication forks scattered throughout the DNA. The exact number of replication forks in eukaryotic cells can vary depending on the species and cell type.
What is The action of helicase creates?
Helicase unwinds the double-stranded DNA by breaking the hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs. This creates two single strands of DNA that can be used as templates for DNA replication or transcription.
During DNA replication why are there many replication forks?
because it just is
Replication forks tend to?
Replication forks tend to unwind the DNA helix, separate the double strands, and synthesize new strands of DNA in opposite directions. They are formed during DNA replication and move along the DNA template strands as replication progresses.
What are the areas on DNA where replication occurs called?
DNA replication begins in areas of DNA molecules are called origins of replication.
Is it true formation of multiple replication forks tends to slow down DNA replication?
No, the whole point in forming multiple replication forks is to reduce the time it takes to replicated DNA by replicating several sections of DNA at the same time, so that each polymerase enzyme has to copy less of the DNA. As a result replication finishes earlier than it would if one polymerase were to replicate the entire strand (as it would operate at the same speed - about 1000 base pairs per second). The human genome has about 20,000 origins for replication, which will produce 20,000 replication forks. It is necessary to have this many because the human genome is so large (3.3 billion base pairs). Without 20,000 origins, DNA replication would take close to 20,000 times longer.
How many replication forks are produced when DNA denatures at an origin?
Two replication forks are produced when DNA denatures at an origin, allowing for bidirectional DNA synthesis. Each fork moves in opposite directions along the DNA strand, with one moving towards the replication fork and the other moving away from it.
Do DNA have 1 or many replication forks?
Not sure, but good question! You may have to ask a doctor.
NOT a likely method of DNA replication as determined by the structure of DNA?
Strand displacement replication is not a likely method of DNA replication because it involves the formation of multiple replication forks which is not supported by the structure of DNA, which consists of two antiparallel strands.
Why are there many replication forks during DNA replication?
The DNA polymerase enzymes can only operate from the 3' end of the chain to the 5' end, not the other way. The two helices that make up the double helix of DNA are oriented oppositely, as shown in the diagram above, making the DNA polymerase enzymes move in opposite directions.
