DNA Replication: Replication Steps

DNA h[blank_start]elicase[blank_end] breaks the H b[blank_start]onds[blank_end] linking the base p[blank_start]airs[blank_end] of DNA

As a result, the double h[blank_start]elix[blank_end] separates into its two s[blank_start]trands[blank_end] and unwinds

Each exposed p[blank_start]olynucleotide[blank_end] strand acts as a t[blank_start]emplate[blank_end] to which c[blank_start]omplementary[blank_end] free n[blank_start]ucleotide[blank_end] bind by specific b[blank_start]ase[blank_end] pairs

Nucleotides are joined in a c[blank_start]ondensation[blank_end] reaction by DNA p[blank_start]olymerase[blank_end] to form the ‘missing’ polynucleotide s[blank_start]trand[blank_end] on each of the two o[blank_start]riginal[blank_end] polynucleotide strands of [blank_start]DNA[blank_end]

Each of the new [blank_start]DNA[blank_end] molecules contains one of the o[blank_start]riginal[blank_end] DNA strands