1. SC. 912.L.3 Describe the basic process if DNA replication and how it relates to the transmission and conservation of the genetic information
Objective: The students will be able to gain an understanding of DNA molecule making an exact copy of itself (replication).
Practice 2 Developing and Using Models

2. DNA Replication

3. Replication and cell division
All DNA must be copied before cell division (mitosis) so each daughter cell can receive a complete set.
DNA replication occurs during the S phase of the cell cycle, before chromatin condenses into chromosomes.
mosomestructure.jpg

5. 3 main steps to replication
Step 1 – Helicase unzips the DNA strand by breaking the hydrogen bonds between base pairs; creates two new “template” strands
Step 2 – DNA polymerase inserts new complementary bases (and builds P/S backbone)
Step 3 –DNA polymerase proofreads the sequence; fixes errors

6. Antiparallel strands of DNA
Notice that one strand is always upside-down relative to the other strand?
The two strands are antiparallel to each other

7. Direction of replication
One DNA strand forms in the same direction that helicase unzips it
The other one must go the other way (because DNA is antiparallel)
This causes fragments of DNA to form, which are then later sealed by another enzyme
YouTube:
DNA Replication

8. The result of replication is…
…two new strands of DNA that are exactly the same as the original strand

9. Why is DNA called semi-conservative?
DNA replication is called semi-conservative because each strand has an old part and a new part
Semi = half or part; conservative = preserving the old ways

10. DNA replication is very accurate
DNA polymerase laying down new nucleotides makes1 error per 1,000,000 nucleotides
Sounds good?
3,000,000,000 base pairs in the each human cell…3,000 possible errors each time our cells replicate
BUT…after DNA Polymerase is done, other enzymes “proofread” and correct the new strand
Afterward, the error rate is about 1 error per 10,000,000,000 or 1 error every 3 cell divisions.

11. Base pairing practice
For each example below, give the correct complementary strand of DNA.
T T G C T A G
A A C G A T C
T A G C G C T
A T C G C G A
A C C G T C A
T G G C A G T
G C T A T G T
C G A T A C A

12. Replication practice T G C A G A T new old DNA strands new strands old
polymerase
new
strands
old
strands
DNA
polymerase
helicase
A C G T C T
A C G T C T