IGCSE/GCSE/O & A Level/IB/University Student Forum

Qualification => Subject Doubts => GCE AS & A2 Level => Sciences => Topic started by: Sue T on November 25, 2009, 03:22:27 pm

Title: As bio question
Post by: Sue T on November 25, 2009, 03:22:27 pm
its about DNA replication - how much do we really neeeeed 2 no
r we expected to know bout helicase, primase  etc ?? cuz they are really confusing!  ???
Title: Re: As bio question
Post by: slvri on November 25, 2009, 05:18:20 pm
its about DNA replication - how much do we really neeeeed 2 no
r we expected to know bout helicase, primase  etc ?? cuz they are really confusing!  ???
i noe i find it confusing too..........but we have to know about helicase DNApolymerase and ligase
Title: Re: As bio question
Post by: MaNi_DaDuDe on November 26, 2009, 01:06:16 pm
its about DNA replication - how much do we really neeeeed 2 no
r we expected to know bout helicase, primase  etc ?? cuz they are really confusing!  ???

Hi !

What board?

CIE? Edexcel? AQA? OCR?
Title: Re: As bio question
Post by: Light on November 27, 2009, 12:54:00 am
i dont think its that confusing.DNa replication has only a few, DNA polymerase 1,DNA polymerase 3,ligase,helicase,primase.it is different function.RNA has Rna polymerase,helicase...translation has peptidyl transferase...DNa is one of the easiest topic in AS ..
Title: Re: As bio question
Post by: Lana Wolf on November 27, 2009, 10:42:29 am
DNA and RNA polymerase and ligase are A2 topics if im not mistaken....you dont need to know them for AS...
Only the dna replication process....and stuff.... :P ;D

Thts for CIE....
Title: Re: As bio question
Post by: vanibharutham on November 27, 2009, 01:06:03 pm
From an article i wrote earlier... its not that confusing... and your not expected to know much at all for edexcel... "DNA Polymerase, Helicase, and DNA ligase" are the only things required.... heres a bit of extra reading if ur interested :)

DNA Replication
When cells divide, the new cells produced must have a full set of genes in order to function correctly. Genes are made of DNA so it is necessary to replicate the DNA before the cell divides.
Cell division occurs during growth, development (from a fertilised egg to an adult) and replacement of damaged cells. Cell division also occurs during the production of gametes (sex cells).
In all cases, DNA replication has to precede cell division.
During DNA replication, the DNA double helix is copied identically to produce two daughter DNA strands.
The process of DNA replication involves several enzymes and is as follows:
The DNA double helix is unwound by an enzyme called Helicase. It attaches to a region called the promoter and begins breaking the hydrogen bonds between the base pairs. The result is two individual strands of DNA.
Another enzyme called Topoisomerase is also responsible for unwinding of the super-coiled area of the DNA. It does this by releasing tension.
The two parallel strands are held in their place by enzymes called Single Strand Binding proteins.
The point of opening of the two DNA strands into two single strands is called the DNA replication Fork.
The two strands are named according to the orientation of the carbon atoms in the backbone. One strand will run from 3’ to 5’ and the parallel strand runs from 5’ to 3’.
These strands are given names:
Leading Strand - 3 ’ to 5’
Lagging Strand - 5’ to 3’
An enzyme called DNA Polymerase III extends the nucleic acid chain by adding DNA nucleotides to the daughter strands. It is important to note that synthesis of daughter strand takes place only in the 5’ to 3’ direction.
Before DNA Polymerase can attach to the strands, it needs to know where to begin replication, and this is the job of RNA Primase. It adds a small chain of RNA (single stranded DNA called Ribonucleic acid)  to the daughter strands so DNA Polymerase III can begin replication.
The leading strand is replicated continuously.
The lagging strand is orientated in a 5’ to 3’ direction so replication takes place opposite direction from the replication fork. This is why the lagging strand cannot be replicated continuously, but is synthesized in tiny fragments called Okazaki fragments.
Towards the end of DNA replication, the RNA Primers need to be removed and the Okazaki fragments need to be joined together. This involves two more enzymes - RNase H (or DNA Polymerase I ) removes the RNA primers by degrading the bonds. The gaps are filled in by DNA polymerase III.
The gaps between Okazaki fragments are filled by DNA polymerase III and then DNA Ligase adds the phosphodiester bonds between the gaps.
Title: Re: As bio question
Post by: Sue T on November 29, 2009, 09:03:10 am
thank you everyone! i appreciate the help :D
i'm cie so i guess ive 2 learn it all ;)
Title: Re: As bio question
Post by: nid404 on November 29, 2009, 03:15:43 pm
check this https://studentforums.biz/index.php/topic,4397.30.html
Title: Re: As bio question
Post by: MaNi_DaDuDe on November 29, 2009, 05:14:56 pm
I did CIE.

Check the syllabus from www.cie.org.uk and the stuff in bold is for A2; the rest is for AS.

I don't really understand your question..Sorry. :/

However, if you have any further doubts, I can help. I've done AS Biology and am currently doing A2 Biology.

Pz