DNA Replication

When a cell divides, it forms two daughter cells. This means that before cell division, the cell must duplicate its DNA so that each daughter cell can inherit the full set of DNA.

DNA replication

DNA is made up of two polynucleotide strands that form a double helix.
During DNA replication, each of the two strands are used as a template from which new strands are copied.

Semi-conservative model

After replication, the new DNA is made up of one original polynucleotide strand and a new, complementary strand.
This explains why DNA replication is described as semi-conservative because one original strand is conserved.

The process of replication (1)

DNA helicase binds to DNA and breaks the hydrogen bonds between the two strands.
The DNA helix unwinds and the two strands separate.

The process of replication (2)

Free-floating nucleotides form hydrogen bonds with the complementary bases.
Each strand is used as a template to produce complementary strands.

The process of replication (3)

DNA polymerase forms phosphodiester bonds between the nucleotides.
Two new DNA strands are synthesised.

Strands of the Double Helix

Nucleotides join together to form a polynucleotide strand. Two polynucleotide strands coil together to form a double helix.

DNA strands

The carbon atoms of the sugar molecule are numbered as 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, and 5′ (1′ is read as “one prime”).
The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide.
The bond is called a 5′–3′ phosphodiester linkage.

Antiparallel

This is called an antiparallel orientation because the helix's two strands run in opposite directions.
The 5′ carbon end of one strand will face the 3′ carbon end of its matching strand.

DNA polymerase

DNA polymerase catalyses the condensation reaction between the nucleotides in a DNA strand.
DNA polymerase forms phosphodiester bonds between adjacent nucleotides.

Models of DNA Replication

It is important to understand how the discoveries of Watson and Crick, and later Meselson and Stahl, confirm the semi-conservative replication hypothesis of DNA replication.

Watson and Crick

In 1953, two scientists called Watson and Crick found that specific base pairing was involved in a way of copying sequences of genetic information.
They thought that each strand acts as a template from which the new complementary strand is copied.
But they didn't know how replication took place.
They proposed three models of replication including conservative replication.

Meselson and Stahl

Meselson and Stahl were interested in understanding how DNA replicates.
They grew E. coli for several generations in one medium containing a “heavy” isotope of nitrogen (15N) and another medium containing a 'light' isotope of nitrogen (14N).
During replication, the nitrogen gets included into nitrogenous bases, and eventually into the DNA.

Isolating DNA

After each of the first few generations, the cells were harvested and the DNA was isolated, then centrifuged.
The DNA formed separate bands according to its density. DNA grown in "heavy" 15N formed a band lower down the centrifuge tube than that grown in "light" 14N.

The middle band

Meselson and Stahl moved E. coli from the 15N batch to a broth containing 14N only.
They noted that after one generation of growth in 14N, the single band observed was in the space between DNA of cells grown exclusively in 15N and 14N.
This suggested a semi-conservative mode of replication.

Conclusive evidence

The DNA harvested from cells grown for two generations in 14N formed two bands:
- One DNA band was between 15N and 14N.
- The other DNA band corresponded to the band of 14N DNA.
These results could only be explained if DNA replicates in a semi-conservative manner.

1Biological Molecules

1.1Monomers & Polymers

1.1.1Monomers & Polymers

1.1.2Condensation & Hydrolysis Reactions

1.2Carbohydrates

1.2.1Structure of Carbohydrates

1.2.2Types of Polysaccharides

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Monomers, Polymers and Carbs

1.2.4Exam-Style Question - Carbohydrates

1.2.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Carbohydrates

1.3Lipids

1.3.1Triglycerides & Phospholipids

1.3.2Types of Fatty Acids

1.3.3Testing for Lipids

1.3.4Exam-Style Question - Fats

1.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Lipids

1.4Proteins

1.4.1The Peptide Chain

1.4.2Investigating Proteins

1.4.3Primary & Secondary Protein Structure

1.4.4Tertiary & Quaternary Protein Structure

1.4.5Enzymes

1.4.6Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

1.4.7Enzyme-Controlled Reactions

1.4.8End of Topic Test - Lipids & Proteins

1.4.9A-A* (AO3/4) - Enzymes

1.4.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Proteins

1.5Nucleic Acids

1.5.1DNA & RNA

1.5.2Nucleotides

1.5.3Polynucleotides

1.5.4DNA Replication

1.5.5Exam-Style Question - Nucleic Acids

1.5.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Nucleic Acids

1.6ATP

1.6.1Structure of ATP

1.6.2Hydrolysis of ATP

1.6.3Resynthesis of ATP

1.6.4End of Topic Test - Nucleic Acids & ATP

1.7Water

1.7.1Importance of Water

1.7.2Structure of Water

1.7.3Properties of Water

1.7.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Water

1.8Inorganic Ions

1.8.1Inorganic Ions

1.8.2End of Topic Test - Water & Inorganic Ions

2Cells

2.1Cell Structure

2.1.1Introduction to Cells

2.1.2Eukaryotic Cells & Organelles

2.1.3Eukaryotic Cells & Organelles 2

2.1.4Prokaryotes

2.1.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Organelles

2.1.6Methods of Studying Cells

2.1.7Microscopes

2.1.8End of Topic Test - Cell Structure

2.1.9Exam-Style Question - Cells

2.1.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Cells

2.2Mitosis & Cancer

2.2.1Mitosis

2.2.2Stages of Mitosis

2.2.3Investigating Mitosis

2.2.4Cancer

2.2.5A-A* (AO3/4) - The Cell Cycle

2.3Transport Across Cell Membrane

2.3.1Cell Membrane Structure

2.3.2A-A* (AO3/4) - Membrane Structure

2.3.3Diffusion

2.3.4Osmosis

2.3.5Active Transport

2.3.6End of Topic Test - Mitosis, Cancer & Transport

2.3.7Exam-Style Question - Membranes

2.3.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Membranes & Transport

2.3.9A-A*- Mitosis, Cancer & Transport

2.4Cell Recognition & the Immune System

2.4.1Immune System

2.4.2Phagocytosis

2.4.3T Lymphocytes

2.4.4B Lymphocytes

2.4.5Antibodies

2.4.6Primary & Secondary Response

2.4.7Vaccines

2.4.8HIV

2.4.9Ethical Issues

2.4.10End of Topic Test - Immune System

2.4.11Exam-Style Question - Immune System

2.4.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Immune System

3Substance Exchange

3.1Surface Area to Volume Ratio

3.1.1Size & Surface Area

3.1.2A-A* (AO3/4) - Cell Size

3.2Gas Exchange

3.2.1Single-Celled Organisms

3.2.2Multicellular Organisms

3.2.3Control of Water Loss

3.2.4Human Gas Exchange

3.2.5Ventilation

3.2.6Dissection

3.2.7Measuring Gas Exchange

3.2.8Lung Disease

3.2.9Lung Disease Data

3.2.10End of Topic Test - Gas Exchange

3.2.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Gas Exchange

3.3Digestion & Absorption

3.3.1Overview of Digestion

3.3.2Digestion in Mammals

3.3.3Absorption

3.3.4End of Topic Test - Substance Exchange & Digestion

3.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Substance Ex & Digestion

3.4Mass Transport

3.4.1Haemoglobin

3.4.2Oxygen Transport

3.4.3The Circulatory System

3.4.4The Heart

3.4.5Blood Vessels

3.4.6Cardiovascular Disease

3.4.7Heart Dissection

3.4.8Xylem

3.4.9Phloem

3.4.10Investigating Plant Transport

3.4.11End of Topic Test - Mass Transport

3.4.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Mass Transport

4Genetic Information & Variation

4.1DNA, Genes & Chromosomes

4.1.1DNA

4.1.2Genes

4.1.3Non-Coding Genes

4.1.4The Genetic Code

4.1.5A-A* (AO3/4) - DNA

4.2DNA & Protein Synthesis

4.2.1Protein Synthesis

4.2.2Transcription & Translation

4.2.3End of Topic Test - DNA, Genes & Protein Synthesis

4.2.4Exam-Style Question - Protein Synthesis

4.2.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Coronavirus Translation

4.2.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Transcription

4.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Translation

4.3Mutations & Meiosis

4.3.1Mutations

4.3.2Meiosis

4.3.3A-A* (AO3/4) - Meiosis

4.3.4Meiosis vs Mitosis

4.3.5End of Topic Test - Mutations, Meiosis

4.3.6A-A* (AO3/4) - DNA,Genes, CellDiv & ProtSynth

4.4Genetic Diversity & Adaptation

4.4.1Genetic Diversity

4.4.2Natural Selection

4.4.3A-A* (AO3/4) - Natural Selection

4.4.4Adaptations

4.4.5Investigating Natural Selection

4.4.6End of Topic Test - Genetic Diversity & Adaptation

4.4.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Genetic Diversity & Adaptation

4.5Species & Taxonomy

4.5.1Courtship Behaviour

4.5.2Phylogeny

4.5.3Classification

4.5.4DNA Technology

4.5.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Species & Taxonomy

4.6Biodiversity Within a Community

4.6.1Biodiversity

4.6.2Index of diversity

4.6.3Agriculture

4.6.4End of Topic Test - Species,Taxonomy& Biodiversity

4.6.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Species,Taxon&Biodiversity

4.7Investigating Diversity

4.7.1Genetic Diversity

4.7.2Quantitative Investigation

5Energy Transfers (A2 only)

5.1Photosynthesis

5.1.1Overview of Photosynthesis

5.1.2Photoionisation of Chlorophyll

5.1.3Production of ATP & Reduced NADP

5.1.4Cyclic Photophosphorylation

5.1.5Light-Independent Reaction

5.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Photosynthesis Reactions

5.1.7Limiting Factors

5.1.8Photosynthesis Experiments

5.1.9End of Topic Test - Photosynthesis

5.1.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Photosynthesis

5.2Respiration

5.2.1Overview of Respiration

5.2.2Anaerobic Respiration

5.2.3A-A* (AO3/4) - Anaerobic Respiration

5.2.4The Link Reaction

5.2.5The Krebs Cycle

5.2.6Oxidative Phosphorylation

5.2.7Respiration Experiments

5.2.8End of Topic Test - Respiration

5.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - Respiration

5.3Energy & Ecosystems

5.3.1Biomass

5.3.2Production & Productivity

5.3.3Agricultural Practices

5.4Nutrient Cycles

5.4.1Nitrogen Cycle

5.4.2Phosphorous Cycle

5.4.3Fertilisers & Eutrophication

5.4.4End of Topic Test - Nutrient Cycles

5.4.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Energy,Ecosystems&NutrientCycles

6Responding to Change (A2 only)

6.1Nervous Communication

6.1.1Survival

6.1.2Plant Responses

6.1.3Animal Responses

6.1.4Reflexes

6.1.5End of Topic Test - Reflexes, Responses & Survival

6.1.6Receptors

6.1.7The Human Retina

6.1.8Control of Heart Rate

6.1.9End of Topic Test - Receptors, Retina & Heart Rate

6.2Nervous Coordination

6.2.1Neurones

6.2.2Action Potentials

6.2.3Speed of Transmission

6.2.4End of Topic Test - Neurones & Action Potentials

6.2.5Synapses

6.2.6Types of Synapse

6.2.7Medical Application

6.2.8End of Topic Test - Synapses

6.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - Nervous Comm&Coord

6.3Muscle Contraction

6.3.1Skeletal Muscle

6.3.2Sliding Filament Theory

6.3.3Contraction

6.3.4Slow & Fast Twitch Fibres

6.3.5End of Topic Test - Muscles

6.3.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Muscle Contraction

6.4Homeostasis

6.4.1Overview of Homeostasis

6.4.2Blood Glucose Concentration

6.4.3Controlling Blood Glucose Concentration

6.4.4End of Topic Test - Blood Glucose

6.4.5Primary & Secondary Messengers

6.4.6Diabetes Mellitus

6.4.7Measuring Glucose Concentration

6.4.8Osmoregulation

6.4.9Controlling Blood Water Potential

6.4.10ADH

6.4.11End of Topic Test - Diabetes & Osmoregulation

6.4.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Homeostasis

7Genetics & Ecosystems (A2 only)

7.1Genetics

7.1.1Key Terms in Genetics

7.1.2Inheritance

7.1.3Linkage

7.1.4Multiple Alleles & Epistasis

7.1.5Chi-Squared Test

7.1.6End of Topic Test - Genetics

7.1.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Genetics

7.2Populations

7.2.1Populations

7.2.2Hardy-Weinberg Principle

7.3Evolution

7.3.1Variation

7.3.2Natural Selection & Evolution

7.3.3End of Topic Test - Populations & Evolution

7.3.4Types of Selection

7.3.5Types of Selection Summary

7.3.6Overview of Speciation

7.3.7Causes of Speciation

7.3.8Diversity

7.3.9End of Topic Test - Selection & Speciation

7.3.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Populations & Evolution

7.4Populations in Ecosystems

7.4.1Overview of Ecosystems

7.4.2Niche

7.4.3Population Size

7.4.4Investigating Population Size

7.4.5End of Topic Test - Ecosystems & Population Size

7.4.6Succession

7.4.7Conservation

7.4.8End of Topic Test - Succession & Conservation

7.4.9A-A* (AO3/4) - Ecosystems

8The Control of Gene Expression (A2 only)

8.1Mutation

8.1.1Mutations

8.1.2Effects of Mutations

8.1.3Causes of Mutations

8.2Gene Expression

8.2.1Stem Cells

8.2.2Stem Cells in Disease

8.2.3End of Topic Test - Mutation & Gene Epression

8.2.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Mutation & Stem Cells

8.2.5Regulating Transcription

8.2.6Epigenetics

8.2.7Epigenetics & Disease

8.2.8Regulating Translation

8.2.9Experimental Data

8.2.10End of Topic Test - Transcription & Translation

8.2.11Tumours

8.2.12Correlations & Causes

8.2.13Prevention & Treatment

8.2.14End of Topic Test - Cancer

8.2.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Gene Expression & Cancer

8.3Genome Projects

8.3.1Using Genome Projects

8.4Gene Technology

8.4.1Recombinant DNA

8.4.2Producing Fragments

8.4.3Amplification

8.4.4End of Topic Test - Genome Project & Amplification

8.4.5Using Recombinant DNA

8.4.6Medical Diagnosis

8.4.7Genetic Fingerprinting

8.4.8End of Topic Test - Gene Technologies

8.4.9A-A* (AO3/4) - Gene Technology

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