NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -DNA replication is one of the most basic processes that occurs within a cell. Each time a cell divides, the two resulting daughter cells must contain exactly the same genetic information, or DNA, as the parent cell. To accomplish this, each strand of existing DNA acts as a template for replication.

Detailed explanation-2: -DNA replication is semiconservative, meaning that each strand in the DNA double helix acts as a template for the synthesis of a new, complementary strand. This process takes us from one starting molecule to two “daughter” molecules, with each newly formed double helix containing one new and one old strand.

Detailed explanation-3: -During elongation, an enzyme called DNA polymerase adds DNA nucleotides to the 3′ end of the template. Because DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotides at the end of a backbone, a primer sequence, which provides this starting point, is added with complementary RNA nucleotides.

Detailed explanation-4: -A replication fork therefore has an asymmetric structure (Figure 5-8). The DNA daughter strand that is synthesized continuously is known as the leading strand.