DNA Replication DNA carries the information for making all of the cells proteins. These pro¬teins implement all of the functions of a living organism and determine the organism¬s characteristics. When the cell reproduces, it has passed all of this information on to the daughter cells. Before a cell can reproduce, it must first replicate, or make a copy of, its DNA. DNA replication occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotes. The structure of DNA lends itself easily to DNA replication. Each side of the double helix runs in opposite directions. The beauty of this structure is that it can unzip down the middle and each side can serve as a pattern or template for the other side. Different types of cells replicated their DNA at different rates. Some cells constantly divide, like those in your hair and fingernails and bone marrow cells. Other cells go through several rounds of cell division and stop (including specialized cells, like those in your brain, muscle and heart). Finally, some cells stop dividing, but can be induced to divide to repair injury (such as skin cells and liver cells). In cells that do not constantly divide, the cues for DNA replication/cell division come in the form of chemicals. These chemicals can come from other parts of the body (hormones) or from the environment. LIFE SCIENCE ACADEMICS – 2014
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 14:32:06 +0000
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