In: Biology
Ans 2. A human of average size has about 65 trillion cells and old cells are continuously being replaced by new cells in every minute. Each minute, about 3000 nucleotides are added in humans and in bacteria, 30,000 nucleotides are added to a new DNA chain per minute. Cellular machinary of DNA replication should work very fast in order to maintain the amazing fidelity of DNA replication. With an average of only one mistake per billion nucleotides and the correction of mistakes immediately after replication is quite amazing. Owing to replication errors and mutations results in evolution. It is ultimate source of all new genetic variation. Without this evolution cannot occur.
Ans 1. RNA primer synthsized by primases are important for begining DNA replication. It provides a free 3'-OH terminus to which nucleotides are added. DNA polymerase can't start synthesis of DNA de novo. It requires free 3'-OH on a template of DNA. DNA polymerase catalyses the formation of phopshodiester bond between primer 3' OH end and 5' -Phosphate of incoming deoxyribonucleotide. Later, primers are removed and nicks are joined by DNA ligase.