BIO BEYOND GENETIC REPLICATION COMPETENCY REVIEW 2026 MOCK TEST COMPLETE KEY INSIGHTS

BIO BEYOND GENETIC REPLICATION
COMPETENCY REVIEW 2026 MOCK TEST
COMPLETE KEY INSIGHTS

◉ What does semiconservative replication mean?
Answer: Each resulting DNA molecule contains one original (parent)
strand and one newly synthesized strand.


◉ What experiment demonstrated semiconservative replication?
Answer: The Meselson-Stahl experiment (1958).


◉ What enzyme unwinds the double helix during DNA replication?
Answer: Helicase.


◉ What role does topoisomerase play in DNA replication?
Answer: It relieves torsional strain ahead of the replication fork.


◉ What is the function of primase in DNA replication?
Answer: It synthesizes a short RNA primer to provide a free 3'-OH
group.

, ◉ Which enzyme is the main one that adds nucleotides during DNA
replication?
Answer: DNA Polymerase III in prokaryotes (DNA Polymerase δ and
ε in eukaryotes).


◉ What is the function of DNA Polymerase I?
Answer: It removes RNA primers and replaces them with DNA.


◉ What is the role of DNA Ligase?
Answer: It seals the gaps between Okazaki fragments and replaced
primers.


◉ What are Okazaki fragments?
Answer: Short segments of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand.


◉ What is the leading strand in DNA replication?
Answer: The strand synthesized continuously in the 5' to 3' direction
toward the replication fork.


◉ What is the lagging strand in DNA replication?
Answer: The strand synthesized discontinuously in short Okazaki
fragments away from the replication fork.