Dna replication
DNA Replication
DNA replication (/diː.eɪ.nə ˌrɛplɪˈkeɪʃən/) is the biological process of producing two identical replicas of DNA from one original DNA molecule. This process occurs in all living organisms and is the basis for biological inheritance.
Etymology
The term "DNA replication" comes from the English words "deoxyribonucleic acid", the full name of DNA, and "replication", which means the action of copying or reproducing something.
Process
DNA replication is a complex process involving several different proteins and enzymes. The process begins with the unwinding of the double helix to expose the DNA sequence. This is achieved by the enzyme helicase. The single strands of DNA then serve as templates for the synthesis of a new strand of DNA. This is carried out by the enzyme DNA polymerase. The end result is two identical DNA molecules, each composed of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
Related Terms
- Semi-conservative replication: This is the method by which DNA replication occurs in cells. Each of the two strands of the DNA molecule serves as a template for the synthesis of a new strand, resulting in two DNA molecules that each contain one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
- DNA polymerase: This is the enzyme that synthesizes the new DNA strand during replication.
- Helicase: This is the enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix at the start of replication.
- Replication fork: This is the structure that forms when the DNA double helix is unwound and the two strands separate. It is at the replication fork that the new DNA strands are synthesized.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dna replication
- Wikipedia's article - Dna replication
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