In bacteriophages and bacteria, the DNA is almost always organized into circular (closed loops) chromosomes. Phage λ is an exception, maintaining its DNA in a linear chromosome within the viral particle. However, as soon as this DNA is injected into a host cell, it circularizes before replication begins. What advantage exists in replicating circular DNA molecules compared to linear molecules, characteristic of eukaryotic chromosomes? HINT: This problem involves cm understanding of eukaryotic DNA replication , as discussed earlier in the text ( see Chapter 11 ). The key to its solution is to consider why the enzyme telomerase is essential in eukaryotic DNA replication, and why bacterial and viral chromosomes can be replicated without encountering the “telomere” problem.

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Answer 1

Textbook Question

Chapter 12, Problem 1NST

In bacteriophages and bacteria, the DNA is almost always organized into circular (closed loops) chromosomes. Phage λ is an exception, maintaining its DNA in a linear chromosome within the viral particle. However, as soon as this DNA is injected into a host cell, it circularizes before replication begins. What advantage exists in replicating circular DNA molecules compared to linear molecules, characteristic of eukaryotic chromosomes?

HINT: This problem involves cm understanding of eukaryotic DNA replication, as discussed earlier in the text (see Chapter 11). The key to its solution is to consider why the enzyme telomerase is essential in eukaryotic DNA replication, and why bacterial and viral chromosomes can be replicated without encountering the “telomere” problem.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To explain: The advantages of replication of DNA in a circular form compared to the linear form.

Introduction: In almost all the organisms, DNA is the genetic material that is inherited from one generation to the next. Depending on the species, DNA exists as a linear or circular molecule. In bacterial species, almost always, DNA is present as a circular chromosome. Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

In bacterial species, DNA is mostly present in circular form rather than linear form. Circular DNA serves certain advantages over the linear form. Some of the advantages of circular DNA over linear DNA are as follows:

Circular DNA molecules are more stable compared to the linear molecules.
End regions of linear DNA are more prone to degradation by intracellular enzymes.
Linear DNA molecules have an unprotected OH group. This increases the chances of chemical degradation of linear DNA molecules.
Circular DNA does not show DNA loss, as seen in linear DNA molecules. Linear DNA has telomerase, which shortens after every cell cycle.

Conclusion

Thus, circular DNA is more advantageous than linear DNA because it is more stable than the linear DNA molecules.

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Students have asked these similar questions

During DNA replication in E. coli, which enzyme forms the phosphodiester bond between an RNA primer and the first incoming deoxyribonucleotide for an Okazaki fragment on the lagging strand? topoisomerase DNA polymerase III DNA helicase DNA polymerase II DNA ligase Heterogeneous nuclear RNA is typically characterized by which of the following features? it is more common in prokaryotes than in eukaryotes it contains introns, but no exons it contains more exons than introns it contains exons, but no introns it contains more introns than exons

The sequence below shows the ends of one strand of a linear chromosome, with slashes representing the middle part, which is not shown. During replication of this one strand, on which side of the slashes will Okazaki fragments be made in the newly synthesized strand? 5' AGCCGTACGGTTATCTCCTAG //// GGGCCTATTGTGACCAGTGAGTCG 3' a) Both sides b) Neither side c) The right side d) The left side

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Answer 2

Textbook Question

Chapter 12, Problem 1NST

In bacteriophages and bacteria, the DNA is almost always organized into circular (closed loops) chromosomes. Phage λ is an exception, maintaining its DNA in a linear chromosome within the viral particle. However, as soon as this DNA is injected into a host cell, it circularizes before replication begins. What advantage exists in replicating circular DNA molecules compared to linear molecules, characteristic of eukaryotic chromosomes?

HINT: This problem involves cm understanding of eukaryotic DNA replication, as discussed earlier in the text (see Chapter 11). The key to its solution is to consider why the enzyme telomerase is essential in eukaryotic DNA replication, and why bacterial and viral chromosomes can be replicated without encountering the “telomere” problem.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To explain: The advantages of replication of DNA in a circular form compared to the linear form.

Introduction: In almost all the organisms, DNA is the genetic material that is inherited from one generation to the next. Depending on the species, DNA exists as a linear or circular molecule. In bacterial species, almost always, DNA is present as a circular chromosome. Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

In bacterial species, DNA is mostly present in circular form rather than linear form. Circular DNA serves certain advantages over the linear form. Some of the advantages of circular DNA over linear DNA are as follows:

Circular DNA molecules are more stable compared to the linear molecules.
End regions of linear DNA are more prone to degradation by intracellular enzymes.
Linear DNA molecules have an unprotected OH group. This increases the chances of chemical degradation of linear DNA molecules.
Circular DNA does not show DNA loss, as seen in linear DNA molecules. Linear DNA has telomerase, which shortens after every cell cycle.

Conclusion

Thus, circular DNA is more advantageous than linear DNA because it is more stable than the linear DNA molecules.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 3

Textbook Question

Chapter 12, Problem 1NST

In bacteriophages and bacteria, the DNA is almost always organized into circular (closed loops) chromosomes. Phage λ is an exception, maintaining its DNA in a linear chromosome within the viral particle. However, as soon as this DNA is injected into a host cell, it circularizes before replication begins. What advantage exists in replicating circular DNA molecules compared to linear molecules, characteristic of eukaryotic chromosomes?

HINT: This problem involves cm understanding of eukaryotic DNA replication, as discussed earlier in the text (see Chapter 11). The key to its solution is to consider why the enzyme telomerase is essential in eukaryotic DNA replication, and why bacterial and viral chromosomes can be replicated without encountering the “telomere” problem.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To explain: The advantages of replication of DNA in a circular form compared to the linear form.

Introduction: In almost all the organisms, DNA is the genetic material that is inherited from one generation to the next. Depending on the species, DNA exists as a linear or circular molecule. In bacterial species, almost always, DNA is present as a circular chromosome. Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

In bacterial species, DNA is mostly present in circular form rather than linear form. Circular DNA serves certain advantages over the linear form. Some of the advantages of circular DNA over linear DNA are as follows:

Circular DNA molecules are more stable compared to the linear molecules.
End regions of linear DNA are more prone to degradation by intracellular enzymes.
Linear DNA molecules have an unprotected OH group. This increases the chances of chemical degradation of linear DNA molecules.
Circular DNA does not show DNA loss, as seen in linear DNA molecules. Linear DNA has telomerase, which shortens after every cell cycle.

Conclusion

Thus, circular DNA is more advantageous than linear DNA because it is more stable than the linear DNA molecules.

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Answer 4

Textbook Question

Chapter 12, Problem 1NST

In bacteriophages and bacteria, the DNA is almost always organized into circular (closed loops) chromosomes. Phage λ is an exception, maintaining its DNA in a linear chromosome within the viral particle. However, as soon as this DNA is injected into a host cell, it circularizes before replication begins. What advantage exists in replicating circular DNA molecules compared to linear molecules, characteristic of eukaryotic chromosomes?

HINT: This problem involves cm understanding of eukaryotic DNA replication, as discussed earlier in the text (see Chapter 11). The key to its solution is to consider why the enzyme telomerase is essential in eukaryotic DNA replication, and why bacterial and viral chromosomes can be replicated without encountering the “telomere” problem.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To explain: The advantages of replication of DNA in a circular form compared to the linear form.

Introduction: In almost all the organisms, DNA is the genetic material that is inherited from one generation to the next. Depending on the species, DNA exists as a linear or circular molecule. In bacterial species, almost always, DNA is present as a circular chromosome. Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

In bacterial species, DNA is mostly present in circular form rather than linear form. Circular DNA serves certain advantages over the linear form. Some of the advantages of circular DNA over linear DNA are as follows:

Circular DNA molecules are more stable compared to the linear molecules.
End regions of linear DNA are more prone to degradation by intracellular enzymes.
Linear DNA molecules have an unprotected OH group. This increases the chances of chemical degradation of linear DNA molecules.
Circular DNA does not show DNA loss, as seen in linear DNA molecules. Linear DNA has telomerase, which shortens after every cell cycle.

Conclusion

Thus, circular DNA is more advantageous than linear DNA because it is more stable than the linear DNA molecules.

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Answer 5

Textbook Question

Answer 6

Textbook Question

Answer 7

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To explain: The advantages of replication of DNA in a circular form compared to the linear form.

Introduction: In almost all the organisms, DNA is the genetic material that is inherited from one generation to the next. Depending on the species, DNA exists as a linear or circular molecule. In bacterial species, almost always, DNA is present as a circular chromosome. Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

In bacterial species, DNA is mostly present in circular form rather than linear form. Circular DNA serves certain advantages over the linear form. Some of the advantages of circular DNA over linear DNA are as follows:

Circular DNA molecules are more stable compared to the linear molecules.
End regions of linear DNA are more prone to degradation by intracellular enzymes.
Linear DNA molecules have an unprotected OH group. This increases the chances of chemical degradation of linear DNA molecules.
Circular DNA does not show DNA loss, as seen in linear DNA molecules. Linear DNA has telomerase, which shortens after every cell cycle.

Conclusion

Thus, circular DNA is more advantageous than linear DNA because it is more stable than the linear DNA molecules.

Answer 8

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To explain: The advantages of replication of DNA in a circular form compared to the linear form.

Introduction: In almost all the organisms, DNA is the genetic material that is inherited from one generation to the next. Depending on the species, DNA exists as a linear or circular molecule. In bacterial species, almost always, DNA is present as a circular chromosome. Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

In bacterial species, DNA is mostly present in circular form rather than linear form. Circular DNA serves certain advantages over the linear form. Some of the advantages of circular DNA over linear DNA are as follows:

Circular DNA molecules are more stable compared to the linear molecules.
End regions of linear DNA are more prone to degradation by intracellular enzymes.
Linear DNA molecules have an unprotected OH group. This increases the chances of chemical degradation of linear DNA molecules.
Circular DNA does not show DNA loss, as seen in linear DNA molecules. Linear DNA has telomerase, which shortens after every cell cycle.

Conclusion

Thus, circular DNA is more advantageous than linear DNA because it is more stable than the linear DNA molecules.

Answer 9

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 10

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 11

Summary Introduction

To explain: The advantages of replication of DNA in a circular form compared to the linear form.

Introduction: In almost all the organisms, DNA is the genetic material that is inherited from one generation to the next. Depending on the species, DNA exists as a linear or circular molecule. In bacterial species, almost always, DNA is present as a circular chromosome. Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material.

Answer 12

Explanation of Solution

In bacterial species, DNA is mostly present in circular form rather than linear form. Circular DNA serves certain advantages over the linear form. Some of the advantages of circular DNA over linear DNA are as follows:

Circular DNA molecules are more stable compared to the linear molecules.
End regions of linear DNA are more prone to degradation by intracellular enzymes.
Linear DNA molecules have an unprotected OH group. This increases the chances of chemical degradation of linear DNA molecules.
Circular DNA does not show DNA loss, as seen in linear DNA molecules. Linear DNA has telomerase, which shortens after every cell cycle.