Basic Rules of DNA Replication

The process of producing two identical replicas from one original DNA molecule is called DNA replication.

DNA Replication requires a number of enzymes, proteins, and DNA sequences that function together to synthesize a new DNA molecule. These components are important but lets not get so immersed in the details of the process that we lose sight of the general principles of the replication.

1. Replication is always semicoservative.

2. Replication begins at the sequences called origins.

3. DNA synthesis is initiated by short fragments of RNA 
    called primers.

4. The elongation of DNA strands is always in the 
     5' to 3' direction.

5. New DNA is synthesized from dNTPs; in the
    polymerization of DNA, two phosphate groups are cleaved 
    from a dNTP and the resulting nucleotide is added to the
    3' -OH group of the growing nucleotide strand.

6. Replication is continuous on the leading strand and 
    discontinuous on the lagging strand.

7. New nucleotide strands are complementary and 
    antiparallel to their template strands.

8. Replication takes place at very high rates and is 
    astonishingly accurate due to the processes of nucleotide 
    selection, proof reading, and repair mechanisms.