What is the process of DNA replication?
What is the process of DNA replication?
Answered
DNA replication is a multi-step process that ensures the accurate duplication of genetic material. 1) Initiation – The enzyme helicase unwinds the DNA double helix, creating two single-stranded templates. 2) Primer synthesis – The enzyme primase adds short RNA primers to the template strands, providing a starting point for DNA polymerase. 3) Elongation – DNA polymerase adds complementary nucleotides to the growing DNA strand. On the leading strand, synthesis is continuous, while on the lagging strand, it occurs in Okazaki fragments. 4) Joining of fragments – The enzyme DNA ligase joins the Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand. 5) Termination – Once the entire DNA molecule is replicated, the process concludes, and two identical DNA molecules are produced.
BNO Team