1. Initiation involves the formation of a pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) at origins, which includes ORC (Origin Recognition Complex), Cdc6, Cdt1, and Mcm helicases
2. In S phase, the pre-RC is activated, allowing the recruitment of DNA polymerases and other replication factors
3. As DNA unwinds, parental histones are partially retained while new histones are added. NAP-1 and CAF-1 chaperone new histones to ensure proper nucleosome assembly