Describe the process of DNA replication

During DNA replication, the enzyme DNA helicase separates the two strands by breaking the hydrogen bonds between bases of each strand. Activated DNA nucleotides hydrogen bond with the exposed complementary bases of the template strand, in the pairs adenine (A) & thymine (T), and guanine (G) & cytosine (C). The enzyme DNA polymerase forms the sugar-phosphate backbone of the new strand by creating phosphodiester bonds between the adjacent nucleotides.DNA replication is semi-conservative because each daughter molecule contains one DNA strand that is newly-synthesised, and one that is from the parent molecule.(Could include labelled diagram to illustrate points)

DH

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Describe the events of the cholinergic synapse


What different forms of RNA are found in a cell and what are their functions?


How does a stimulus produce an action potential?


What is the difference between osmolarity and osmolality?