How to replicate DNA

In this shot, let’s talk about DNA replication and how it works.

What is DNA replication

DNA replication is the process by which a parent cell duplicates itself into two genetically identical daughter cells. Each of the daughter cells contains one of the original strands and one newly replicated strand.

DNA must be replicated very accurately to maintain the integrity of the encoded information and avoid mutations.

How to replicate DNA

Now let’s talk about the steps involved in the replication of DNA.

Unwinding

The first step in the replication process is to unwind the two strands of a DNA molecule to get two separate strands. This process is called unwinding.

Primer synthesis

Following unwinding, the next step in making the new DNA strands is called primer synthesis.

Primers are short stretches of nucleotides synthesized by an RNA polymerase enzyme.

Primers are necessary for DNA replication because the enzyme that adds the actual nucleotides cannot add the complete DNA strand at once. After the elongation process, however, the primers are removed.

Elongation

This is the process of adding nucleotides to the new DNA strands. Elongation is the final step in DNA replication and starts after the primer addition. Adding nucleotides in the exact order as specified in the template of the parent strand is part of the process.

After the addition, each of the new strands is winded over one of the old strands and the replication process is complete.

Thus, these three steps combine to complete the DNA replication process.