Question

A bacterium, containing one circular DNA chromosome, undergoes four rounds of replication. How many new strands of DNA would result?

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is 32 strands.

Explanation:

In bacterium, DNA replication is bidirectional which means it takes place in both directions. The origin of replication starts the replication, it is a specific sequence of nucleotides. Each strand of circular DNA acts as a parent strand to replicate its complementary new strand, resulting in two new DNA strands, one parent strand, and one new synthesized strand. So after the first round of replication, there are 4 strands formed.

Similarly, during the second round of replication each of the four strands will be synthesized lead to a total of 8 strands in the same manner. So by the same process in 3rd round will lead to 16 new strands and by the fourth round of replication 32 strands will be synthesized.

Thus, the correct answer is 32 strands.