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During DNA replication, the double-stranded DNA is copied to produce two identical molecules. The process begins with the enzyme helicase, which unwinds the DNA double helix, creating two single-stranded templates. Single-strand binding proteins (SSBs) stabilize the separated strands. The enzyme primase synthesizes short RNA primers, providing a starting point for DNA polymerase. DNA polymerase adds complementary nucleotides to the template strand, synthesizing a new strand of DNA in the 5′ to 3′ direction. On the leading strand, this process is continuous, while on the lagging strand, it occurs in segments called Okazaki fragments. DNA ligase joins these fragments together to form a continuous strand. At the end of replication, two identical DNA molecules are formed, each containing one original strand and one new strand.
BNO Team