Question

activity b:
dna
replication
get the gizmo ready:

• be sure the hint reads: \the dna molecule is complete.\

if not, click reset and build a new dna molecule.
question: how does dna make a copy of itself?

1. observe: an enzyme is a protein that facilitates certain cell processes. drag the blue dna

helicase enzyme onto the dna strand. what does this enzyme do to the dna molecule?

1. observe: drag the yellow dna polymerase molecule onto the dna strand. dna

polymerase adds complementary nucleotides to create new double - stranded dna
molecules. notice two groups of nucleotides on the right.
a. drag the correct nucleotide to the bottom of the left strand, where the dna
polymerase is located. what happens?

b. continue adding nucleotides to both strands. what happens to the dna polymerase
molecule each time you add a nucleotide?

c. complete the two dna molecules. how do these molecules compare to each other?

1. compare: click the camera to take a snapshot of the dna molecules, then paste the image

into your document. label this image \daughter dna molecules.\
how do these molecules compare to the original?

congratulations! you have completed the process of replication, where one \parent\ dna
strand divides to form two identical \daughter\ dna strands.

1. think and discuss: why is dna replication such an important process?

1. extend your thinking: sometimes errors called mutations occur during dna replication.

what are some of the possible consequences of mutations?

Explanation:

The DNA helicase enzyme unwinds and separates the two strands of the DNA molecule. This is a crucial first step in DNA replication as it exposes the bases on each strand so that new complementary strands can be built.

When the correct nucleotide is added to the bottom of the left strand (where the DNA polymerase is located), the DNA polymerase catalyzes the formation of a phosphodiester bond between the new nucleotide and the existing strand. This is part of the process of building a new complementary strand.

As nucleotides are added to both strands, the DNA polymerase moves along the template strand. It reads the template strand and adds the appropriate complementary nucleotides one by one.

When the two DNA molecules are completed, they are identical to each other. This is because DNA replication follows the base - pairing rules (A - T and C - G), ensuring that each new strand is a precise copy of the template strand.

Answer:

and Solution according to the required format

1.