What is the purpose of DNA replication? _

Question

What is the purpose of DNA replication? _
2. T/F: DNA replication is when a cell uses DNA to create more DNA. 1
3. If 19.7% of an organism's DNA is Adenine, what percent is Thymine?
4. Briefly describe the role of each of the following enzymes in DNA replication.
a. DNA Helicase →
b. DNA Polymerase →
c. DNA Ligase →
5. What is the central dogma of life? _
6. What is the purpose of transcription + translation?

GPT-4o mini · Answer

1. **Purpose of DNA Replication**: DNA replication is the process by which a cell makes an identical copy of its DNA before cell division. This ensures that each new cell receives an exact copy of the organism's genetic information. 2. **True/False**: True. DNA replication is when a cell uses DNA to create more DNA. 3. If 19.7% of an organism's DNA is Adenine, then the percentage of Thymine is also 19.7%. This is because Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T) in DNA, maintaining equal amounts due to complementary base pairing. 4. **Role of enzymes in DNA replication**: a. **DNA Helicase**: It unwinds and separates the two strands of the DNA double helix, creating a replication fork. b. **DNA Polymerase**: It synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides complementary to the template strand; it also has proofreading capabilities to ensure accuracy during replication. c. **DNA Ligase**: It joins Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand and seals any nicks in the sugar-phosphate backbone, ensuring a continuous DNA strand. 5. **Central Dogma of Life**: The central dogma describes the flow of genetic information within a biological system. It typically outlines the processes of DNA replication, transcription (DNA to RNA), and translation (RNA to protein), illustrating how genetic information is expressed. 6. **Purpose of Transcription + Translation**: The purpose of transcription is to convert the genetic information stored in DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA), which serves as a template for protein synthesis. Translation then takes this mRNA and decodes it to assemble amino acids in the correct order to form proteins, which are essential for various cellular functions and structures.