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  • (a) Why does DNA replication occur within a replication fork and not in its entire length simultaneously ? (b) ‘‘DNA replication is continuous and discontinuous on the two strands within the replication fork.’

(a) Why does DNA replication occur within a replication fork and not
in its entire length simultaneously ?
(b) ‘‘DNA replication is continuous and discontinuous on the two
strands within the replication fork.’’ Give reasons.

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Answers (1)

a) For long DNA molecules, since the two strands of DNA cannot be separated in its entire length (due to very high energy requirement), polymerization takes place only in one direction which is 5’-3’, hence the replication occur within a small opening of the DNA helix, referred to as replication fork.
b) The DNA-dependent DNA polymerases catalyse polymerisation only in one direction, that is 5'-3'. This creates some additional complications at the replicating fork. Consequently, on one strand (the template with polarity 3'-5'), the replication is continuous, while on the other (the template with polarity 5'-3'), it is discontinuous. The discontinuously synthesised fragments called the oka zaki fragments are later joined by the enzyme DNA ligase.

Posted by

Priyanka Kumari

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