DNA Replication

• What is DNA replication?

  Process of making exact DNA copies
• Why is DNA replication important for cell division?

  It ensures identical genetic information is passed
• What is one role of DNA replication in multicellular organisms?

  Growth and tissue replacement
• How does DNA replication contribute to embryonic development?

  It is crucial for cell division during development
• What is the semi-conservative nature of DNA replication?

  Each new DNA has one old and one new strand
• What did the Meselson-Stahl experiment demonstrate?

  It showed the semi-conservative nature of DNA replication
• What pairs with Adenine (A) in DNA?

  Thymine (T)
• How does complementary base pairing ensure accuracy in DNA replication?

  Each strand serves as a template for the new strand
• What is the replication fork?

  Y-shaped structure formed during DNA unwinding
• In which direction does DNA replication proceed?

  5' to 3' direction
• What are Okazaki fragments?

  Short fragments synthesized on the lagging strand
• What is the role of helicase in DNA replication?

  Unwinds the DNA double helix
• What does DNA polymerase do during replication?

  Synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides
• How does DNA polymerase ensure high fidelity in DNA replication?

  It proofreads newly synthesized DNA for errors
• What is the purpose of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)?

  To amplify specific segments of DNA
• What are the steps of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)?

  1. Denaturation: Heat to 95°C to separate strands
  2. Annealing: Lower to 50-60°C for primer binding
  3. Extension: Raise to 72°C for DNA synthesis
• What is Taq polymerase?

  Heat-stable DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus
• What is gel electrophoresis used for?

  To separate DNA fragments by size
• What is the process of gel electrophoresis?

  1. Load DNA fragments into gel wells
  2. Apply electric current to move fragments
  3. Smaller fragments travel farther than larger ones
• What is DNA profiling used for?

  Identifying individuals and biological relationships
• What are some applications of gel electrophoresis?

  Forensics, paternity testing, evolutionary studies
• How does DNA sequencing contribute to scientific research?

  It helps sequence entire genomes like HUGO
• How is eDNA used in ecosystem studies?

  To study biodiversity and detect invasive species
• How does reliability in DNA profiling increase?

  By increasing the number of genetic markers analyzed
• How is genetic continuity ensured between generations?

  Through accurate replication of DNA during division
• What biological mechanism relies on directionality in DNA replication?

  DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA in 5' to 3' direction
• Why is Taq polymerase preferred in PCR?

  It withstands high temperatures during denaturation
• How does gel electrophoresis separate DNA fragments?

  Based on size; smaller fragments move faster