EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! A DNA Replication Exclusive!

What’s really going on inside the cell during Synthesis, and…Did the nucleus know about it

the whole time? In the synthesis portion of INTERPHASE, some pretty wacky stuff is goin’ on. I figure I should explain a little bit about that, so…that’s what Ima gonna do

So…that’s crystal clear…right?Yeah…didn’t think so

1. Helicase-starts to separate the two strands of the double helix. With me so far?

2. Single-strand binding proteins (SSB’s) attach to the N-bases to sorta protect ‘em while they’re separated (I guess it’s lonely).

3. DNA Polymerase starts attaching nucleotide parts to each of the newly separated strands.

4. One strand gets made in one long process. It’s called the leading strand. The other one (called the lagging strand) is paired up with complimentary nucleotides in short pieces called Okazaki fragments. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a cool name!

5. The proteins that do the gluing are called ligases…go tell your friends

6. Just FYI…one strand gets made 51-31 and the other goes 31-51. Should you understand that? Nope…but in high school…

The Short n’ Sweet…• DNA separates down the

middle...some chemicals do that.• Some chemicals come along and lay

a new set of A’s, T’s, C’s, & G’s down in the proper order (along with those sugars and phosphates).

• One side gets done all at once• One side gets short pieces one at a

time.