Chapter 7, Problem 32P

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

According to information given in the question, in early embryonic stages, DNA replication occurs every $\text{5 minute}$. The approximate genome size of drosophila is $\text{1}{\text{.8 × 10}}^{\text{8}}$ base pair. The approximate rate of DNA synthesis of eukaryotic DNA polymerase is 40 nucleotides per second. From this information, determine the approximate number of origin of replication required for this $\left(\text{40nt}\text{. /sec}\text{.}\right)$ of replication.

Introduction:

DNA replication process occurs in all living organisms. In this process, DNA strands of double stranded DNA get separated; new complementary strands are synthesized, and DNA molecule gets doubled (two identical copies of DNA). DNA replication is a semi discontinuous process, i.e., after separation of DNA strands, one strand gets synthesized continuously and another strand get synthesized in a discontinuous manner.

The origin of replication is a specific sequence of genomes from which DNA replication starts. Eukaryotes have comparatively larger genomes than bacteria. Drosophila genome size is $\text{1}{\text{.8 × 10}}^{\text{8}}$ base pair which is many times greater than that of bacteria. Due to this reason, the genome of drosophila possesses multiple origins to reduce the time of DNA replication.