Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is the RNA strand that is transcribed from the gene found on DNA. It is responsible for being read by a ribosome in order to create a protein.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) forms a structural component of the ribosomes. Transfer RNA (tRNA) carries amino acid residues and provides an anticodon to add the amino acids to the growing protein at the ribosome. Small nuclear RNA (snRNA) are found in the nucleus and help regulate transcription and maintain telomere length.

Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is the RNA strand that is transcribed from the gene found on DNA. It is responsible for being read by a ribosome in order to create a protein.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) forms a structural component of the ribosomes. Transfer RNA (tRNA) carries amino acid residues and provides an anticodon to add the amino acids to the growing protein at the ribosome. Small nuclear RNA (snRNA) are found in the nucleus and help regulate transcription and maintain telomere length.

DNA helicase unwinds the double helix, separating the two strands so they may be replicated by DNA polymerase.

Primase adds an RNA primer to help initiate DNA replication. DNA ligase is responsible for joining Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand during replication.

DNA helicase unwinds the double helix, separating the two strands so they may be replicated by DNA polymerase.

Primase adds an RNA primer to help initiate DNA replication. DNA ligase is responsible for joining Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand during replication.

Replication of DNA is both continuous and discontinuous, each form of replication occurring simultaneously. Continuous DNA synthesis occurs from the 3’ end to the 5’ end of the parent strand. This is often referred to as the leading strand with new nucleotides being added to the 3’ end. Discontinuous DNA synthesis occurs from the 5’ end to the 3’ end of the parent strand. This strand is often referred to as the lagging strand. It is completed in short sequences of nucleotides called Okazaki fragments. Replication on the lagging strand begins with the addition of an RNA primer by the enzyme primase. Primase adds the RNA primers ahead of the 5’ end of the lagging. This allows DNA polymerase III to add the Okazaki fragments to fill in the space between primers. This process repeats itself until the entire strand has been replicated. DNA polymerase I then comes to exchange the RNA primer with DNA nucleotides, then DNA ligase reinforces the bonding between the fragments and the DNA nucleotides that replaced the RNA primer. Once both the leading and lagging stranded have completed replication, the result is two identical strands of the original DNA molecule.

Replication of DNA is both continuous and discontinuous, each form of replication occurring simultaneously. Continuous DNA synthesis occurs from the 3’ end to the 5’ end of the parent strand. This is often referred to as the leading strand with new nucleotides being added to the 3’ end. Discontinuous DNA synthesis occurs from the 5’ end to the 3’ end of the parent strand. This strand is often referred to as the lagging strand. It is completed in short sequences of nucleotides called Okazaki fragments. Replication on the lagging strand begins with the addition of an RNA primer by the enzyme primase. Primase adds the RNA primers ahead of the 5’ end of the lagging. This allows DNA polymerase III to add the Okazaki fragments to fill in the space between primers. This process repeats itself until the entire strand has been replicated. DNA polymerase I then comes to exchange the RNA primer with DNA nucleotides, then DNA ligase reinforces the bonding between the fragments and the DNA nucleotides that replaced the RNA primer. Once both the leading and lagging stranded have completed replication, the result is two identical strands of the original DNA molecule.

DNA replication involves the separation of the two original DNA strands. Both of these strands are then replicated using DNA polymerase. This results in two DNA double helices, each with a new strand and an original strand.

Consider this example, in which the parent strands are represented by "P" and the daughter strands are represented by "D."

Before replication there are two parent strands: PP

The parent strands are split: P P

Daughter strands are made for each parent strand: PDDP

The fully-replicated double strands separate: PD DP

Each final strand has one parent strand (old DNA) and one daughter strand (new DNA).

Helicase is the protein resposible for unwinding the DNA double-helix. Single-strand binding proteins attach to the freshly unwound strands of DNA and ensure that the strands do not re-anneal. Helicase creates the replication fork opening, allowing replication proteins to enter and bind; single-strand binding proteins keep the replication fork open as proteins enter.

Helicase is the protein resposible for unwinding the DNA double-helix. Single-strand binding proteins attach to the freshly unwound strands of DNA and ensure that the strands do not re-anneal. Helicase creates the replication fork opening, allowing replication proteins to enter and bind; single-strand binding proteins keep the replication fork open as proteins enter.

DNA replication involves the separation of the two original DNA strands. Both of these strands are then replicated using DNA polymerase. This results in two DNA double helices, each with a new strand and an original strand.

Consider this example, in which the parent strands are represented by "P" and the daughter strands are represented by "D."

Before replication there are two parent strands: PP

The parent strands are split: P P

Daughter strands are made for each parent strand: PDDP

The fully-replicated double strands separate: PD DP

Each final strand has one parent strand (old DNA) and one daughter strand (new DNA).