Structure and replication of DNAThe need for DNA replication
DNA is the molecule that holds the instructions for all living things. DNA achieves this feat of storing, coding and transferring biological information though its unique structure.
DNA replicationThe doubling of the chromosomes resulting from the copying of DNA to produce chromatids before mitosis is the process by which a cell makes an identical copy of its DNA.
This process is performed at the beginning of every cell division so that when the cell divides, each daughter cellsWhen a cell divides, the new cells produced are called daughter cells. will inherit an identical copy of the DNA.
Requirements for DNA replication
Original DNA template - DNA is a double helix made of two complementary strands. Each strand can be used as a template to create a new DNA molecule.
Free DNA nucleotides 鈥 needed to form the new strands.
DNA polymerase 鈥 an enzyme that adds new nucleotides to a growing strand of DNA.
Primers 鈥 A primer is a short strand of nucleotides that will bind to the 3鈥 end of the template DNA strand allowing DNA polymerase to add free DNA nucleotides.