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  • Home
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    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
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    • Pre-calculus & Calculus
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Unit 8:  DNA Structure & Function

Reading
BJU Biology: Section 2.6 -  "Proteins and nucleic acids" 
OpenStax Biology - Ch. 14 "DNA Structure and Function" 

Topic
  • DNA structure and function
  • DNA replication

​Lab options (depending on time available)
  • Lac Operon "Gene Switches" lab 
  • HHMI Transgenic Fly lab 
  • ​​Bio-Rad pGLO Bacterial Transformation lab 
  • PhET Gene Expression lab
  • PhET Gene Machine Lac Operon lab​
Picture
Diagram: Unwinding and copying the two strands of DNA
10._dna_replication_lecture_slides_2023.pptx
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Introduction
When a cell divides, it must first replicate all its DNA so that each daughter cell receives a complete copy. DNA replication occurs in all living organisms - humans, whales, finches, corn plants, and fruit flies. 
When a cell divides during mitosis, it is important that each daughter cell receives an identical copy of the DNA. If it didn't, it would be dead on arrival! 

​Copying of the DNA is accomplished by the process of DNA replication - also known as DNA synthesis. This occurs in the S phase of the cell cycle. After that particular cell - let's say a skin cell - completes its synthesis phase, it then moves on the G2 phase - hopefully passes through the G2 quality checkpoint - and ultimately moves on to the mitosis phase where it actually divides. 

​DNA replication is carried out by a molecular machine known as DNA polymerase, which is a complex assemblage of many protein subunits. The DNA polymerase package - known as the replisome - acts like a moving factory, simultaneously copying one strand of DNA forwards, and the other strand of DNA backwards, by an ingenious sliding-looping-ratcheting mechanism. 

In eukaryotes (humans, pea plants, dolphins, and yeast) DNA replication occurs in the nucleus - after all, that's where the DNA resides. 

In prokaryotes (think: bacteria) DNA replication occurs right out in the cytoplasm itself, because that's where bacterial DNA resides. 
Homework
10._dna_replication_homework_questions_2023.docx
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