Introduction
DNA replication is a process whereby DNA make identical copy of itself during cell division. during the process of replication, the original (parent) strand of DNA in the double helix are first separated and each one is copied to produce a new (daughter) strand (online B, 2015). To keep it simple you and I are eukaryote and our cells are eukaryotic because it contains membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus. Eukaryote can be single-celled or multi-celled. On the contrary, prokaryotic cells do not contain nucleus or membrane bound organelles and a good example of prokaryote is bacteria (Klucevsek, K, 2018). Both eukaryotes and prokaryotes undergo DNA replication. The main focus of this information is to compare and contrast DNA
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The essential steps of DNA replication are the same both in eukaryotes and prokaryotes
The DNA replication in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes requires a double-stranded DNA
An enzyme called DNA helicase is responsible for the unwinding of the DNA in both cell type
An enzyme called Polymerase play key role in manufacturing new DNA strand in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes
Each type of DNA polymerases works in the 5’ to 3’ direction.
The DNA replication in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes requires RNA primer to initialize
The synthesis of the RNA primer is done by the enzyme called primase
The replication process in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes are bi-directional, progressing both ways
Difference in DNA replication between eukaryotes and prokaryotes is summarize below (BiologyWise, 2018).
Location
Eukaryotes have nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, the DNA is concealed inside the nucleus. For this reason, the nucleus is the DNA replication site for eukaryotes.
Prokaryotes do not have membrane-bound organelles and nucleus. DNA replication take place in the cytoplasm of the
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While Prokaryotic DNA replication is carried out by DNA polymerase I and III
Initiation
Eukaryotic DNA is very large, and the chromosomes is organized in linear fashion. Because of the very large nature of the amount of material to be copied, the DNA replication has multiple origins on each chromosome. The process of replication can initiate independently of each other’s origin and break off at the corresponding termination sites. As a result, the DNA replication is faster with each chromosome having several replicons. E.g. human can have 100,000 replication origins.
In prokaryotic DNA replication, the chromosomes are organized in a circular fashion. The DNA replication has single origin and a single replicon due to the less complexity of the replication process.
Direction of Replication
The replication process in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes are bi-directional, progressing both ways. However, it has been observed that certain plasmids present in bacteria cell has unidirectional DNA replication.