DNA Replication: Structured Notes

Aim:
To learn how to outline the process of replication of DNA to be able to confidently
answer a question like:

Explain how DNA is replicated within the cells of living organisms.

(Total 8 marks)

Introduction

The five diagrams in the table below illustrate the main parts of the process of DNA
replication which you need to understand for SL. Look at each diagram and explain
how each image is important in the process.

Image Important in DNA replication because…

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© David Faure, InThinking www.biology-inthinking.co.uk

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DNA Replication: Structured Notes

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Did you include the following ideas?

 The structure of DNA

 The unwinding the double helix
 The separation of the strands by helicase
 The formation of the new complementary strands by DNA polymerase.
 Explain how complementary base pairing keeps the base sequence of DNA.
 State that DNA replication is semi-conservative.

© David Faure, InThinking www.biology-inthinking.co.uk

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