Biology / Unit 6 Bio 1231 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Prokaryotic Replication's Single Circular Origin
Captions available
The idea
A prokaryotic chromosome, typically circular, replicates from one origin, with two replication forks traveling outward until they meet.
In practice
E. coli's circular chromosome opens one bubble at its origin, replicating in both directions until the forks meet opposite it.
Where people slip
One origin is enough because a prokaryotic chromosome is comparatively short — this does not hold for the much longer chromosomes of eukaryotes.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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