Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

8. DNA Replication

Overview of DNA Replication

Genetics

8. DNA Replication

Overview of DNA Replication

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Multiple Choice

DNA replication synthesizes DNA in which direction?

5' to 3'

3' to 5'

Leading strand 5' to 3', lagging strand 3' to 5'

Leading strand 3' to 5', lagging strand 5' to 3'

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the basic structure of DNA: DNA strands have directionality, with one end labeled 5' (five prime) and the other 3' (three prime). This is based on the numbering of carbon atoms in the deoxyribose sugar of the DNA backbone.

Recognize that DNA replication involves the synthesis of a new strand complementary to the template strand. DNA polymerases, the enzymes responsible for DNA synthesis, can only add nucleotides to the 3' end of a growing DNA strand.

Identify the direction of DNA synthesis: Since DNA polymerases add nucleotides to the 3' end, DNA synthesis occurs in the 5' to 3' direction.

Differentiate between the leading and lagging strands: During replication, the leading strand is synthesized continuously in the 5' to 3' direction, while the lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously in short segments called Okazaki fragments, also in the 5' to 3' direction.

Clarify the misconception: Although the lagging strand is synthesized in segments, each segment is still synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction. The overall process involves the replication fork moving in the 3' to 5' direction relative to the lagging strand template, but synthesis itself is always 5' to 3'.