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Calculating the Secrets of Life Contributions of the Mathematical Sciences to Molecular Biology (1995) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 179-180

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From page 179...
... In transcription, the first step in gene expression, the DNA base pairing within the gene must be temporarily disrupted to allow an RNA molecule with a sequence complementary to one of the strands of the gene to be constructed. In DNA replication, the two original strands of a parent DNA molecule replicate to form two complete molecules, with each strand serving as a template for the synthesis of its complement.
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From page 180...
... Because A T base pairs are held by only two hydrogen bonds whereas G C pairs are held by three, it is energetically less costly to separate the former pairs than the latter. For this reason, strand separations tend to be concentrated in A+T-rich regions of the DNA.As we will see in this chapter, this provides the sequence dependence necessary to control the sites of separation.
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Key Terms

  • strand separation
  • base pair
  • strand separations
  • base pairs
  • dna replication

  • supercoiled dna
  • dna molecule
  • dna sequence
  • double helix
  • separation requires

  • dna duplex


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