6.2 DNA Replication
in AP Biology
Watson and Crick’s model predicts that when a double helix replicates, each of the two daughter molecules will have one old strand, from the parental molecule, and one newly made strand.
To Think About:
What is the purpose of DNA replication? What does it mean for the replication process to be semiconservative? How does the directionality of a DNA molecule influence the replication process? What are the specific enzymes involved in replication and what is the function of each?
Watch: AP Daily Video Replication
Answer the Following Questions:
- What is the purpose of DNA replication?
- What does “semiconservative” replication mean?
- How is the 5’ terminus different from the 3’ terminus of DNA?
- What does antiparallel mean?
- Because new nucleotides can only be added in the 5’ to 3’ direction, one strand is called the leading strand and is synthesized ______________________ and the other strand is called the lagging strand and is synthesized __________________________________.
- Describe the function of each of the following enzymes in DNA replication:
a. Helicase b. Topoisomerase c. DNA polymerase d. Ligase
- How are the functions of helicase and topoisomerase related?
Supplementary Resources:
- Bozeman Science: Mr. Andersen’s “DNA Replication” video
- Crash Course Biology: DNA Structure and Replication
- Amoeba Sisters: DNA Replication
