Central Dogma in the Function of DNA: Replication

Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA) carry genetic information that is transmitted to new cells/off-springs.

The process by which cells maintain their genetic information and convert the genetic information encoded in DNA into gene products is called the Central Dogma.

The central dogma of DNA (Figure 1) are replication, transcription and translation.

Figure: Central dogma of DNA functions

DNA Replication

DNA replication is the production of two identical replicas of DNA from one original DNA molecule.

Steps in DNA replication

1. Helicase enzyme unzips coiled DNA to form a replication fork. The two separated strands act as templates for making new strands of DNA.
2. Primase enzyme makes short primers to which DNA polymerase III enzyme binds and adds DNA nucleotides to create the leading strand during DNA replication.
3. Primers are removed and replaced with DNA nucleotides by bacterial DNA polymerase I and DNA ligase seals the gaps between fragments.
4. Okazaki fragments are short sequences of DNA synthesized discontinuously; linked by DNA ligase to create the lagging strand during DNA replication.
5. Exonuclease enzyme removes primers and gaps are filled by DNA polymerase.

Resources

• GLI Training package on LPA 2012
• DNA Replication

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