Question

After the students identified the correct model, they did additional research on how
DNA
is replicated. The students then returned to the models that they drew and made the following claims.

Student 1: The model does not need to be changed because
DNA
replication can occur without proteins.
Student 2: Proteins need to be added to the model. Without proteins,
DNA
replication would not be possible.

Which of the following statements indicates the correct student claim and provides the appropriate reasoning?


Student 1’s claim is correct because
DNA
replicates when nucleotides mix together in the cytoplasm to build a new strand of
DNA
.

Option A,Student 1’s claim is correct because D N A replicates when nucleotides mix together in the cytoplasm to build a new strand of D N A .

A

Student 1’s claim is correct because enzymes unzip the
DNA
helix so that nucleotides can build a new strand of
DNA
.

Option B,Student 1’s claim is correct because en

Answer 1

Student 2 is correct. DNA replication requires proteins (enzymes) — e.g., helicase to unwind the double helix, primase to make RNA primers, DNA polymerase to add nucleotides to the growing strand, and ligase to join Okazaki fragments. Nucleotides do not simply mix together and self-assemble accurately; replication is a template-directed, enzyme-catalyzed process (in eukaryotes it occurs in the nucleus).