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DNA Repair quiz #3 Flashcards

DNA Repair quiz #3
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  • How do DNA polymerases contribute to the accuracy of DNA replication?
    DNA polymerases have proofreading abilities that detect and correct base pairing errors during replication, significantly reducing the error rate from 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 10 billion base pairs.
  • Describe the initial error rate of DNA replication and how it is improved.
    The initial error rate of DNA replication is about 1 in 100,000 base pairs, but proofreading by DNA polymerases reduces this rate to about 1 in 10 billion base pairs.
  • Besides DNA polymerase proofreading, what other systems help correct DNA replication errors?
    Other DNA repair enzymes work alongside DNA polymerase proofreading to fix errors that escape initial correction, further reducing mutation rates.
  • What is the relationship between DNA replication frequency and the importance of repair mechanisms?
    Because DNA replication occurs frequently and involves large amounts of DNA, repair mechanisms are essential to prevent the accumulation of mutations.
  • What is the typical initial error rate of DNA base pairing during replication before any correction mechanisms act?
    The initial error rate is about 1 in 100,000 base pairs.
  • How do DNA polymerases help maintain the accuracy of DNA replication?
    DNA polymerases have proofreading abilities that detect and correct base pairing errors during replication, greatly reducing the error rate.
  • To what extent does DNA polymerase proofreading reduce the error rate in DNA replication?
    Proofreading by DNA polymerases reduces the error rate from 1 in 100,000 to about 1 in 10 billion base pairs.
  • What can happen if DNA replication errors are not repaired?
    Unrepaired errors can result in permanent mutations, which may lead to diseases such as cancer.
  • Besides DNA polymerase proofreading, what other mechanisms help correct DNA replication errors?
    Other DNA repair enzymes work alongside DNA polymerase proofreading to fix errors that escape initial correction.
  • Why are DNA repair mechanisms especially important in cells?
    Because DNA replication occurs frequently and involves large amounts of DNA, repair mechanisms are essential to prevent the accumulation of mutations.