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Introduction to DNA Replication quiz

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  • What is the main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA replication origins?
    Prokaryotes have a single origin of replication on their circular chromosome, while eukaryotes have multiple origins on their linear chromosomes.
  • What does semi-conservative DNA replication mean?
    It means each parental DNA strand separates and serves as a template for a new complementary strand, resulting in two identical DNA molecules.
  • What is the function of topoisomerase (DNA gyrase in prokaryotes) during DNA replication?
    Topoisomerase relieves DNA supercoiling ahead of the replication fork by cutting and rejoining DNA strands.
  • What role does helicase play in DNA replication?
    Helicase unwinds the DNA double helix by breaking hydrogen bonds between the two DNA strands at the replication fork.
  • What is the function of single-stranded binding proteins (SSBs) in DNA replication?
    SSBs bind to and stabilize single-stranded DNA, preventing reannealing and degradation of the separated strands.
  • What does primase do during DNA replication?
    Primase synthesizes short RNA primers that provide a starting point for DNA synthesis.
  • Which enzyme is primarily responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands in prokaryotes?
    DNA Polymerase III is the main enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands using the old strand as a template.
  • What is the function of DNA Polymerase I in prokaryotic DNA replication?
    DNA Polymerase I replaces RNA primers with DNA nucleotides.
  • What does DNA ligase do during DNA replication?
    DNA ligase covalently joins Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand to create a continuous DNA strand.
  • Where does DNA replication begin on a DNA molecule?
    DNA replication begins at a specific DNA sequence called the origin of replication (ori).
  • What is a replication fork?
    A replication fork is a Y-shaped region at the end of the unwound DNA bubble where DNA replication actively occurs.
  • How does DNA replication proceed from the origin of replication?
    DNA replication proceeds bidirectionally from the origin, meaning it moves in both directions at each replication fork.
  • Why must DNA supercoiling be relieved during replication?
    Supercoiling creates strain that can inhibit DNA replication, so it must be relieved for replication to proceed normally.
  • What prevents the separated DNA strands from reannealing during replication?
    Single-stranded binding proteins bind to the separated strands, preventing them from reannealing.
  • Why is the process of DNA replication considered fundamentally similar in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
    Because both use semi-conservative replication and involve similar enzymes and proteins, despite differences in chromosome structure and number of origins.