Replication fork

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Image:Dna-split.png

The replication fork is a structure which forms when DNA is ready to replicate itself. It is created by helicase, which breaks the hydrogen bonds holding the two DNA strands together. The resulting structure has two branching "prongs", each one made up of a single strand of DNA. DNA polymerase then goes to work on creating new partners for the two strands by adding nucleotides.

See leading strand, lagging strand, DNA replication

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