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Sci Notes 2

DNA serves as long-term storage for genetic information, while RNA carries this information for protein synthesis. DNA replication is crucial for growth, repair, and reproduction, occurring in the nucleus during the S phase of the cell cycle with the help of key enzymes like helicase and DNA polymerase. The process involves unwinding the DNA strands and synthesizing new strands in a specific direction, leading to the formation of leading and lagging strands.

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14 views2 pages

Sci Notes 2

DNA serves as long-term storage for genetic information, while RNA carries this information for protein synthesis. DNA replication is crucial for growth, repair, and reproduction, occurring in the nucleus during the S phase of the cell cycle with the help of key enzymes like helicase and DNA polymerase. The process involves unwinding the DNA strands and synthesizing new strands in a specific direction, leading to the formation of leading and lagging strands.

Uploaded by

Zuñiga, Joseph Benedict
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Feature DNA RNA

Long-term storage of Carries genetic information and


Function
genetic information participates in protein synthesis

Structure Double-stranded helix Single-stranded

Sugar Deoxyribose Ribose

Bases A, T, C, G A, U, C, G

Stability More stable Less stable

Location Mostly in nucleus Nucleus, cytoplasm, ribosomes

Key Roles of RNA

 Messenger RNA (mRNA): Carries instructions from DNA in the nucleus to the
ribosomes.
 Transfer RNA (tRNA): Brings amino acids to ribosomes to build proteins.
 Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): A major component of ribosomes, the sites of protein
synthesis.

What is DNA replication

 The process: Making an identical copy of a DNA molecule.


 Why it's important: Ensures that every new cell created during cell division has
its own complete set of genetic instructions.

Why do you need DNA replication?

 Growth: New cells need their own DNA to function.


 Repair: Damaged or old cells need replacement with a full set of genetic
material.
 Reproduction: Passing on genetic information to offspring.

Where and when?

 Where: Inside the nucleus of eukaryotic cells (cells with a nucleus). In


prokaryotic cells (like bacteria) it happens in the cytoplasm.
 When: During the S phase (synthesis phase) of the cell cycle, before a cell
divides.

Introducing key player enzymes

 Helicase: Unwinds and "unzips" the double helix.


 Primase: Adds a short RNA primer to start the replication process.
 DNA Polymerase: The main builder – adds new nucleotides to the growing DNA
strand according to the base pairing rules (A-T, C-G).
 Ligase: "Glues" together the fragments of newly made DNA (especially on the
lagging strand).

Initial steps of DNA replication

1. Unwinding: Helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds between base pairs,


separating the two strands of DNA.
2. Primer placement: Primase adds short RNA primers to both strands, providing a
starting point for DNA polymerase.

Explaining 5' to 3' and 3' to 5'

 Directionality: DNA strands have a direction based on the sugar molecule


(deoxyribose). Think of them as numbered carbons (1' to 5').
 DNA polymerase limitation: DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides in the 5'
to 3' direction. This means it builds one strand continuously, but the other has to
be built in fragments.

Showing leading and lagging strands in DNA replication

 Leading strand: Synthesized continuously in the 5' to 3' direction, following the
replication fork (the point where DNA unzips).
 Lagging strand: Synthesized in short fragments (Okazaki fragments) in the
opposite direction of the replication fork. These fragments are later joined by
ligase.

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