Activity: Role plays on DNA replication

FACULTY NAME: Dr. Gurumurthy H                       DATE: 5/03/2019

SUBJECT CODE: 17BT44                                             SEM/BRANCH: V/ BT

SUBJECT NAME: Molecular Biology                      ACADEMIC YEAR: 2018-2019

About DNA Replication

DNA replication

DNA replication is fundamental process occurring in all living organism to copy their DNA. The process is called replication in sense that each strand of ds DNA serve as template for reproduction of complementary strand.

 General feature of DNA replication

·         DNA replication is semi conservative

·         It is bidirectional process

·         It proceed from a specific point called origin

·         It proceed in 5’-3’ direction

·         It occur with high degree of fidelity

·         It is a multi-enzymatic process

DNA replication occurs by three steps

Initiation:

·         Initiation complex formation

·         Closed complex formation

·         Open complex formation

Elongation:

·         Leading strand synthesis

·         Lagging strand synthesis

Termination

About Role play:

·         Students are informed to stand in two lines which represent the double helix of DNA (Figure 1).

·         One student in the centre of helix represents the action of Helicase enzyme (Figure 2).

·         Movement of that one student shows the breaking of Hydrogen bonds between Nitrogenous bases (Figure 3).

From this activity, students were able to:

·        Understand the DNA replication process

Figure 1, 2 & 3 are the images of activity conducted by the students

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3