D1.1

DNA replication

Production of identical copies of DNA

Semi-conservative DNA replication

New DNA molecules have one parent strand and one newly synthesized strand

Helicase

Enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix

DNA polymerase

Enzyme that links nucleotides to form a growing chain of DNA

Complementary base pairing

Adenine-Thymine, Guanine-Cytosine

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Method for amplifying a DNA sequence from a small sample

Taq DNA polymerase

DNA polymerase obtained from Thermus aquaticus, stable at high temperatures

Gel electrophoresis

Technique used to separate charged molecules like DNA or proteins

DNA profile

Pattern created from an individual's DNA fragments using gel electrophoresis

Restriction endonuclease

Enzymes that cut DNA into fragments

Directionality of DNA Polymerases

DNA replication moves from 5' to 3'

Leading strand

Strand where DNA replication is continuous

Lagging strand

Strand where DNA replication is discontinuous, producing Okazaki fragments

Okazaki fragments

Short DNA fragments formed on the lagging strand during DNA replication

DNA primase

Enzyme that inserts an RNA primer onto DNA strands

DNA Polymerase III

Attaches to the RNA primer and adds DNA nucleotides

DNA Ligase

Enzyme that joins Okazaki fragments together

DNA polymerase I

Removes the RNA primer and inserts DNA nucleotides

Gyrase (topoisomerase)

Relieves strain on DNA strands during replication

DNA proofreading

DNA Polymerase III removes mismatched bases at the 3’ end