Question

Define/ explain DNA replication:
1. helicase
2. primase
3. polymerase"

Answer 1

DNA replication is the process of duplicating a cell's DNA, involving key enzymes like DNA helicase, which unwinds the DNA, primase, which synthesizes RNA primers, and DNA polymerase, which synthesizes new DNA strands.

Step-by-step explanation:

DNA replication is a fundamental process by which a cell duplicates its DNA. In this process, several enzymes play crucial roles:

1. DNA helicase is the enzyme responsible for unwinding the double helix of DNA at the origin of replication, creating what are known as replication forks by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the base pairs.
2. Primase is an enzyme that synthesizes a short RNA primer necessary to initiate the synthesis of a new DNA strand since DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to an existing strand.
3. DNA polymerase is the enzyme that adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand during replication, building a new strand that is complementary to the template strand.

The coordinated actions of these enzymes ensure that each new cell receives an exact copy of the DNA, critical for maintaining the genetic integrity of an organism.