Monday, August 20, 2007

DNA Replication Behavior- from Low to High

DNA replication is considered the heart of the DNA process. Recent findings by scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) may be paving the way for more efficient analyses and tests related to the replication of cells, and ultimately, to the better understanding of human biology, such as in stem cell research.

Where does duplication occur?
Faithful duplication of the genome ensures that daughter cells inherit a complete set of genetic materials identical to parent cells. This duplication occurs in the section of the cell cycle known as the S-phase. Extensive research on the budding yeast revealed that the replication process is started at hundreds of origins in the S-phase.

Is the replication process efficient?
Many previous studies focused on the replication timing and initiation sites, but not on the efficiency. So it was believed that the replication efficiency decreased as the S-phase progressed.
But now they know better. In a recently published paper scientists described how they were able to determine the replication timing and efficiency at the various loci in the genome. Now replication efficiency is low at the beginning of the S-phase, but the efficiency increased at the later stage of this phase.

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