Replication
Replication is a process that occurs in all living organisms as the basis for biological inheritance. This is the process by which an organism's DNA is copied during the cell cycle. The copied material, which has the same genetic makeup as the original, is referred to as a replica.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Replication involves the separation of the DNA molecule into two strands, followed by the synthesis of new strands to match each of the separated strands. The resulting double helixes are identical to each other and to the original. This process is essential for cell growth, repair, and reproduction in organisms.
Process[edit | edit source]
The process of replication begins with the unwinding of the double helix to expose the bases in each strand of DNA. The location where this occurs is called the origin of replication. The unwinding is done by an enzyme called helicase, which breaks the hydrogen bonds holding the two DNA strands together.
Once the DNA is unwound, another enzyme called DNA polymerase adds new bases to the strand. This is done in a 5' to 3' direction, meaning that new nucleotides are added at the 3' end of the new strand.
Replication Fork[edit | edit source]
The replication fork is a structure that forms within the nucleus of a dividing cell. It is created by helicases, which break the hydrogen bonds holding the two DNA strands together. The resulting structure has two branching "prongs", each one made up of a single strand of DNA.
Leading and Lagging Strands[edit | edit source]
During replication, one strand of DNA, known as the leading strand, is replicated continuously in the 5' to 3' direction. The other strand, known as the lagging strand, is replicated discontinuously in short sections known as Okazaki fragments.
Termination[edit | edit source]
Replication ends when the new DNA molecules fully separate from the original DNA. In eukaryotes, each linear end of DNA molecule contains telomere sequences which are replicated with the help of an enzyme called telomerase.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Replication Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
