Final answer:
Eukaryotic cells have multiple origins of replication to ensure efficient and timely replication of their large, complex genomes. This enables simultaneous replication across multiple sites on each linear chromosome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eukaryotic cells have multiple origins of replication to ensure timely replication of their relatively large and multiple chromosomes. Unlike prokaryotic cells that have a single circular chromosome with a single origin of replication, eukaryotic cells have multiple linear chromosomes, each with multiple origins of replication. This arrangement allows replication to occur simultaneously at several places in the genome, thus speeding up the overall process of DNA replication, which is essential given the larger size and complexity of eukaryotic genomes.
During replication in eukaryotic cells, strands of DNA serve as templates for the creation of new complementary strands. With the help of various enzymes and proteins, such as DNA polymerases and helicases, the replication process proceeds bi-directionally from each origin. The leading strand is synthesized continuously, while the lagging strand is synthesized in short stretches. This complex process is facilitated by the use of multiple origins of replication to produce the new strands efficiently.