Chapter 7, Problem 1TMW

DNA replication requires a large amount of energy, yet none of a cell’s ATP energy supply is used. Why isn’t it?

Summary Introduction

To tell:

Why DNA replication does not use any of the cell’s ATP energy supply though it requires a large amount of energy.

Introduction:

The making of DNA offspring from the parental DNA is termed as DNA replication. During replication, all the genetic information present in the DNA is copied and transferred to the newly synthesized DNA.

Explanation of Solution

DNA replication is a process of anabolic polymerization in which the cells are allowed to make copies of its own genome. In DNA replication, the two original strands of the DNA were separated; using each strand as a template, a complementary DNA strand is synthesized. The DNA possesses triphosphate deoxyribonucleotides with three phosphate groups bonded together by two hydrogen bonds. This serves as an energy source for the DNA replication. The DNA carries the building blocks within itself as energy, which is required for the DNA synthesis.

Conclusion

The DNA replication utilizes energy from its own triphosphates, and therefore it does not use the cell’s ATP energy supply.