What are the similarities between PCR and DNA replication?
Posted March 11, 2022
Answer
There are several similarities between PCR and DNA replication:
- Both are processes of DNA synthesis
- Both are polymerizing chain reactions that proceed in the 5′ to 3′ direction in each strand
- In both processes, double-stranded DNA is separated from each other
- DNA is copied in both processes
- In both processes, existing DNA is used as the template for the synthesis of new DNA
- In both processes, DNA polymerizing enzymes add complementary bases to the growing strand
- Both processes also use primers, which are short oligonucleotide fragments complementary to DNA
- Primers are responsible for initiating DNA synthesis in both processes
- Both processes use deoxyribose nucleotides as substrates
Additional resources
Replication of DNA Containing Mirror-Image Thymidine in E. coli Cells