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12.2 Chromosomes and DNA Replication

12.2 Chromosomes and DNA Replication. DNA and Chromosomes. Most prokaryotes have a single circular DNA molecule that contains nearly all of the cell’s genetic information. Eukaryotic DNA is generally located in the cell nucleus in the form of a number of chromosomes. DNA Length.

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12.2 Chromosomes and DNA Replication

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  1. 12.2 Chromosomes and DNA Replication

  2. DNA and Chromosomes • Most prokaryotes have a single circular DNA molecule that contains nearly all of the cell’s genetic information. • Eukaryotic DNA is generally located in the cell nucleus in the form of a number of chromosomes.

  3. DNA Length • The chromosome of the prokaryote E. colicontains 4, 639, 221 base pairs.

  4. Chromosome Structure • Eukaryotic chromosomes contain both DNA and protein, tightly packed together to form a substance called chromatin. • Chromatin consists of DNA that is tightly coiled around proteins called histones. Together, the DNA and histone molecules form a beadlike structure called a nucleosome.

  5. Chromosome structure • Nucleosomes seem to be able to fold enormous lengths of DNA into the tiny space available in the cell nucleus.

  6. DNA Replication • In most prokaryotes, DNA replication begins at a single point in the chromosome and proceeds until the entire chromosome is replicated. In Eukaryotes, DNA replication occurs at hundreds of places. • The sites where separation and replication occur are called replication forks.

  7. Duplicating DNA • During DNA replication, the DNA molecule separates into two new strands, and then produces two new complementary strands following the rules of base pairing. • Each strand of the double helix of DNA serves as a template, or model, for the new strand.

  8. How Replication Occurs • DNA replication is carried out by a series of enzymes that unzip a molecule of DNA. • The principle enzyme involved in DNA replication is called DNA Polymerase because it joins individual nucleotides to produce a DNA molecule. • DNA polymerase also “proofreads” each new DNA strand.

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