Which chemical process causes RNA or DNA replication?

[relativityfan]

hi,

DNA and RNA seem to be very peculiar molecular structures that are able to replicate themselves, and they are unique regarding this point, right?. But which chemical "magical" phenomena is responsible for this ability to reproduce?

 

[Borek]

No magic, more like clever chemistry. No one phenomena, but combination of many.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcription_(genetics )

 

[granpa]

the pairing of the bases by hydrogen bonds is probably the main thing

 

[chemisttree]

the pairing of the bases by hydrogen bonds is probably the main thing

But the pairing doesn't have much to do with replication, does it?

 

[mishrashubham]

But the pairing doesn't have much to do with replication, does it?

Actually for replication, the DNA molecule needs to be split apart. This is done by helicases which break the hydrogen bonds between A-T and G-C pairs. However since A-T pairs have only 2 hydrogen bonds compared with 3 bonds in G-C pairs, they are easier to break. Therefore the splits are usually done in places rich in A-T pairs.

 

[alxm]

To quote the original Crick-Watson double-helix paper: "It has not escaped us that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material."

 

[tkpopwers]

Interphase

 

[tkpopwers]

Interphase

interphase is when the replication of dna occurs in the cells

 

[jackmell]

hi,

But which chemical "magical" phenomena is responsible for this ability to reproduce?

Here's the chain of events I found in Wikipedia:

"Within eukaryotes, DNA replication is controlled within the context of the cell cycle. As the cell grows and divides, it progresses through stages in the cell cycle; DNA replication occurs during the S phase (Synthesis phase). The progress of the eukaryotic cell through the cycle is controlled by cell cycle checkpoints. Progression through checkpoints is controlled through complex interactions between various proteins, including cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases.[16]"

"Cyclins are so named because their concentration varies in a cyclical fashion during the cell cycle; they are produced or degraded as needed in order to drive the cell through the different stages of the cell cycle."

Now note the concentration of Cyclin-E in the diagram below: It reaches a maximum right about the start of S-phase so perhaps if you wanted to delve further, you could investigate what mechanism controls the cyclic concentration of cyclin molecules in the cells?