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DNA replication, artwork
DNA replication, computer artwork. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is composed of two strands of nucleotides (red) twisted into a double helix. Before replication the strands are separated by a helicase enzyme, with each strand acting as a template for the formation of a new DNA molecule. The templates are 'read' by DNA polymerase enzymes that travel along the strands matching complementary nucleotides to the templates to build up the 2 new DNA molecules. The leading strand is read in the 3'-5' direction and the lagging strand is read 5'-3'. In step II a ligase enzyme completes the replication process.
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