DNA Replication In A DNA Molecule

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The Process of Replication in a DNA Molecule
Replication is the process of when a double-stranded DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules.
DNA replication is one of the most basic processes that occurs within a cell. Each time a cell divides, the two resulting daughter cells must contain exactly the same DNA as the parent cell. To accomplish this, each strand of existing DNA acts as a template for replication.
How is DNA replicated? DNA replication occurs in three major steps:
1. the opening of the double helix and separation of the DNA strands
2. the priming of the template strand
3. the assembly of the new DNA segment

During separation, the two strands of the DNA double helix uncoil at a specific location called the …show more content…

First, an initiator protein unwinds a short amount of the double helix. After this, the protein known as helicase, attaches to and then breaks up the hydrogen bonds between the bases of the DNA strands, therefore pulling them apart. As the helicase moves along the DNA molecule, it continues breaking the hydrogen bonds and also separating the two polynucleotide chains.
Meanwhile, as the helicase separates the strands, another enzyme called primase briefly attaches to each strand and creates a place where the replication can begin. This place is full of nucleotides, called a primer.
How are DNA strands replicated?
At the beginning at the primer sequence, the DNA polymerase attaches to the original DNA strand and begins assembling a complementary strand.
After the primer is in place on a single, unwound polynucleotide strand, the DNA polymerase wraps itself around that strand, and it attaches new nucleotides to the exposed nitrogenous bases. The polymerase assembles a new DNA strand on top of the existing one.
As the DNA polymerase makes its way down the unwound DNA strand, it relies on the floating nucleotides that surround the existing strand to build the new strand. The nucleotides that make up the new strand are paired with partner nucleotides in the template

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