DNA Replication: Structured Notes

Aim:
To learn how to outline the process of replication of DNA to be able to confidently
answer a question like:

Explain how DNA is replicated within the cells of living organisms.

(Total 8 marks)

Introduction

The five diagrams in the table below illustrate the main parts of the process of DNA
replication which you need to understand for SL. Look at each diagram and explain
how each image is important in the process.

Image Important in DNA replication because…

This shows the nitrogen bases that make

………………………………………………………………..
up DNA. The bases are displaying parts
………………………………………………………………..
of………………………………………………………………..
the structure of DNA. They are the nitrogen
bases that make up the genetic material

Phosphate sugar is in the form of a double

………………………………………………………………..
helix, which makes the form or shape that allow
………………………………………………………………..
for DNA replication and protein synthesis to occur.
………………………………………………………………..

Helicase unwinds the DNA, they are essential

………………………………………………………………..
During DNA replication because they separate
………………………………………………………………..
double-stranded DNA into single strands.
………………………………………………………………..

© David Faure, InThinking www.biology-inthinking.co.uk

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DNA Replication: Structured Notes

Polymerase enzymes copy DNA and RNA

………………………………………………………………..
strands and later replicates or assembles
………………………………………………………………..
DNA or RNA material.
………………………………………………………………..

There is an order in which DNA bases

………………………………………………………………..
complement each other. Thymine and
………………………………………………………………..
adenine (TA) will always be together and
………………………………………………………………..
guanine and cutosine (GC) will always
be together.

This shows the formation of the new strand

………………………………………………………………..
and that it’s semi conservative. This occurs
………………………………………………………………..
because there is half and half on both strands.
………………………………………………………………..

Did you include the following ideas?

 The structure of DNA

 The unwinding the double helix
 The separation of the strands by helicase
 The formation of the new complementary strands by DNA polymerase.
 Explain how complementary base pairing keeps the base sequence of DNA.
 State that DNA replication is semi-conservative.

© David Faure, InThinking www.biology-inthinking.co.uk

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