Fundamentals of DNA Replication

📋 Course Outline

1. DNA Structure
2. DNA Replication Fork
3. Replication Enzymes
4. DNA Replication Process
5. Cell Cycle Regulation
6. Transcription Mechanism
7. RNA Processing
8. Translation Process
9. Post-Translational Modifications
10. Genetic Applications

📖 1. DNA Structure

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The hereditary material in all living organisms, composed of two strands forming a double helix that encodes genetic information.
• Nucleotide: The basic unit of DNA, consisting of a phosphate group, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogenous base.
• Double Helix: The spiral structure of DNA, formed by two complementary strands twisted around each other.
• Complementary Base Pairing: The specific pairing of nitrogenous bases—adenine (A) with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) with guanine (G)—held together by hydrogen bonds.
• Antiparallel Strands: The two DNA strands run in opposite directions, one 5' to 3' and the other 3' to 5', facilitating replication and transcription.
• Base Pairing Rules: The principle that A pairs with T via two hydrogen bonds, and C pairs with G via three hydrogen bonds, ensuring accurate copying of genetic information.

📝 Essential Points