Understand the basic mechanism used to replicate DNA molecules and the experimental evidence that supports it

Remember the key point that DNA strands “grow” from the 3’ OH end only

Understand the difference between leading and lagging strand synthesis and why different mechanisms are utilised to replicate the two strands

Learn that DNA replication results in bidirectional replication forks that can be visualised experimentally

Understand why telomeres cause a problem for replication and how telomerase solves this problem

Appreciate the different activities of E. coli DNA pol III, the organisation of the enzyme and its action during DNA replication.

Understand DNA supercoiling and the roles of topisomerase and gyrase

Learn the events that take place at the origin of replication in E. coli and the role of the ter sequences

Be able to explain how E. coli is able to replicate its chromosome so efficiently