Final answer:
DNA replication in prokaryotes involves unwinding the DNA, elongating the new strands, and terminating the process once the entire sequence is replicated, which is true (option A). The process is semiconservative and anabolic, vital for cell division.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is whether DNA replication in prokaryotes involves three steps: unwinding, elongation, and termination. The answer to this question is True.
In prokaryotes, DNA replication indeed follows a three-step process.
These steps are as follows:
- Initiation: Replication begins at a specific site called the origin of replication, where proteins bind to the DNA and start the replication process.
- Elongation: The enzyme DNA helicase unwinds the DNA helix, and then DNA polymerase III adds nucleotides to synthesize the new complementary DNA strands.
- Termination: Once the entire DNA sequence has been replicated, the new DNA strands dissociate from the original DNA template, completing the replication cycle.
It is important to note that DNA replication is semiconservative, resulting in two DNA molecules, each consisting of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand. This process is essential for cell division, ensuring that each new cell receives an accurate copy of the genetic material.
Furthermore, DNA replication is an anabolic process, as it involves the synthesis of new DNA molecules from nucleotide monomers.