Question

"DNA replication does not happen without some help. Which other molecules or types of molecules are needed for DNA replication to occur?"

Answer 1

Answer:

Enzymes like DNA polymerase III, HELICASE, Primase, Topoisomerase, ligase.

Explanation:

DNA replication is an important process that must occur prior to cell division. DNA content of a cell becomes duplicated in the process. This process, however, cannot occur without some vital elements that play specific roles. These elements are mostly enzymes which includes DNA polymerase III, HELICASE, Primase, Topoisomerase, ligase.

DNA POLYMERASE III is the main enzyme in this process, it adds nucleotides that are complementary to the unwinded DNA strand in order to synthesize its replica.

However, a new complementary DNA strand cannot be synthesized if the original double-stranded DNA does not unwind or separate. This process of unzipping the DNA into a Y-shaped replication fork is done by HELICASE.

DNA polymerase III starts adding nucleotides from the 3' end of the DNA strand. In order to recognize this end on the strand about to be synthesized, PRIMASE synthesizes a short strand of nucleic acid called Primer. This primer provides the DNA polymerase with something to start working on.

TOPOISOMERASE works on the double-stranded DNA prior to formation of replication fork by helicase. It helps prevent the DNA strands from becoming too tight and super coiled in order to make unzipping easy.

LIGASE helps to fill up those gaps in the DNA fragments during the synthesis of a complementary strand.