Question

What are the steps of DNA Replication in order?

Answer 1

Explanation:

1) The enzyme helicase catalyses the unwinding of the two DNA strands by disrupting the hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs.

2) Single-stranded binding proteins attach to the DNA strands to stabilise them and prevent them from joining back together.

3) The enzyme primase catalyses the addition of a short primer consisting of RNA nulceotides to the DNA strand. This serves as an 'anchor' DNA polymerase to initiate replication.

4) The enzyme DNA polymerase synthesizes a new DNA strand by incorporating DNA nucleotides complementary to the existing strand. DNA polymerase activity only occurs in the 5' ---> 3' direction.

5) The enzyme ligase catalyses the formation of hydrogen bonds between the two new pairs of DNA strands, and seals any breakages in the sugar-phosphate backbone.