Final answer:
Eukaryotic DNA replication is slower than prokaryotic DNA replication due to the large and complex nature of eukaryotic genomes, the presence of multiple origins of replication, and the more intricate replication machinery involved. The linear structure of eukaryotic chromosomes also contributes to the slower process.
Step-by-step explanation:
It takes longer to fully replicate eukaryotic DNA compared to prokaryotic DNA for several reasons. Eukaryotic organisms, such as humans, have much larger and more complex genomes composed of billions of base pairs spread across multiple linear chromosomes. In contrast, prokaryotic organisms like Escherichia coli have much smaller and simpler genomes.
Eukaryotes also have multiple origins of replication. Humans, for example, have between 30,000 to 100,000 origins of replication, allowing the replication process to occur at many points simultaneously across the complex genome. However, due to the complexity and size of eukaryotic genomes, the rate of DNA replication is approximately 100 nucleotides per second, which is 10 times slower than the 1000 nucleotides per second replication rate in prokaryotes.
Moreover, the replication machinery differs between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Eukaryotes use a variety of DNA polymerases for replication, up to fourteen, compared to the five types used by prokaryotes. Additionally, complications like the end replication problem, where the ends of linear chromosomes may become progressively shorter over time, add to the time required for replication in eukaryotic cells.