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The Simplest Way to Replicate DNA

The Simplest Way to Replicate DNA

Understand the replication process and unidirectionality of DNA polymerase.

Replication process

We’re now ready to discuss the replication process in more detail. As illustrated in the figures given below (top), the two complementary DNA strands running in opposite directions around a circular chromosome unravel, starting at ori. As the strands unwind, they create two replication forks, which expand in both directions around the chromosome until the strands completely separate at the replication terminus (denoted ter). The replication terminus is located roughly opposite to ori in the chromosome.

An important ...