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Chapter 11: Problem 3

Unlike prokaryotes, why do eukaryotes need multiple replication origins?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Short Answer: Eukaryotes require multiple replication origins due to the larger size and complex structure of their genomes. This allows DNA replication to occur more quickly and efficiently, ensuring the entire genome is duplicated in a reasonable amount of time during the cell cycle. In contrast, prokaryotes typically have a single origin of replication as their smaller, circular DNA can be replicated more easily.

Step by step solution

01

Define prokaryotes and eukaryotes

Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms like bacteria and archaea, while eukaryotes are more complex organisms such as plants, animals, and fungi. One key difference between these two types of cells is the organization and structure of their DNA.
02

Describe the structure and size of DNA in prokaryotes and eukaryotes

Prokaryotic DNA is usually organized in a single, circular molecule, and is generally smaller in size when compared to eukaryotic DNA. Eukaryotic DNA, on the other hand, is organized into large, linear chromosomes that are located inside the nucleus of the cell. Eukaryotic organisms typically have a larger genome, containing much more DNA than prokaryotic organisms.
03

Explain the process of DNA replication

DNA replication is the process by which a cell duplicates its DNA before dividing, ensuring that each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the genetic material. DNA replication begins at specific sites on the DNA molecule called origins of replication. In prokaryotes, there is typically only one origin of replication per DNA molecule. In eukaryotes, however, there are multiple origins of replication spread across the chromosomes.
04

Explain the need for multiple replication origins in eukaryotes

Due to the large size of the eukaryotic genome, having just one origin of replication would result in a very slow replication process, as the replication machinery would need to travel the length of the entire chromosome to duplicate the DNA. Multiple replication origins in eukaryotes allow for the process to take place quicker and more efficiently, with multiple sections of the DNA being replicated simultaneously. This ensures that the entire genome can be duplicated in a reasonable amount of time during the cell cycle.
05

Conclude the explanation

Eukaryotes need multiple replication origins due to the larger size and complex structure of their genomes. Multiple origins of replication ensure that the DNA can be replicated efficiently and quickly, which is crucial for the cell division process. This is a key difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and reflects the overall complexity and vast differences in organization between these two types of organisms.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

You have generated a mutant strain of eukaryotic cells that constitutively express proteins required for translesion DNA synthesis (TLS). Would these cells have a mutator phenotype? Explain. One of the strains that you are working with shows an additional mutation whereby the processivity of a TLS polymerase is increased. What would be the consequence of this mutation?

DNA polymerases in all organisms add only \(5^{\prime}\) nucleotides to the \(3^{\prime}\) end of a growing DNA strand, never to the \(5^{\prime}\) end. One possible reason for this is the fact that most DNA polymerases have a proofreading function that would not be energetically possible if DNA synthesis occurred in the \(3^{\prime}\) to \(5^{\prime}\) direction. (a) Sketch the reaction that DNA polymerase would have to catalyze if DNA synthesis occurred in the \(3^{\prime}\) to \(5^{\prime}\) direction. (b) Consider the information in your sketch and speculate as to why proofreading would be problematic.

What is the end replication problem?

In \(1994,\) telomerase activity was discovered in human cancer cell lines. Although telomerase is not active in human somatic tissue, this discovery indicated that humans do contain the genes for telomerase proteins and telomerase RNA. since inappropriate activation of telomerase may contribute to cancer, why do you think the genes coding for this enzyme have been maintained in the human genome throughout evolution? Are there any types of human body cells where telomerase activation would be advantageous or even necessary? Explain.

Suppose that \(E .\) coli synthesizes DNA at a rate of 100,000 nucleotides per minute and takes 40 minutes to replicate its chromo- some. (a) How many base pairs are present in the entire \(E .\) coli chromosome? (b) What is the physical length of the chromosome in its helical configuration- that is, what is the circumference of the chromosome if it were opened into a circle?
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