DNA Replication
DNA Replication DNA must be replicated (copied) so cells can undergo growth and division Occurs in the nucleus Occurs during Interphase (S phase)* of the cell cycle
DNA Replication Step 1: “Unzip” The enzyme Helicase separates the 2 DNA strands Breaks the weak hydrogen bonds Occurs at the replication fork
DNA Replication Step 2: “Create” The enzyme DNA Polymerase attaches the complementary nitrogen bases to the “unzipped” DNA strands (A-T) and (G-C)
DNA Replication Step 3: Once the nitrogen bases are added, the enzyme Ligase proof reads and “re-zips” the DNA. Each DNA helix has one new and one old DNA strand → This is called semi-conservative
DNA Replication Product of DNA replication = 2 identical strands of DNA The cell now has 2 identical copies of it’s DNA and is now ready to undergo cell division! The new identical strand of DNA is for the new cell!
Semi-Conservative Original G--C C--G T--A A--T Daughter 1 G--C C--G
DNA Replication Video (3:27) Watch until - 2:00 Skip ahead to - 3:05