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Prokaryotic Replication's Single Circular Origin

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A prokaryotic chromosome, typically circular, replicates from one origin, with two replication forks traveling outward until they meet.

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E. coli's circular chromosome opens one bubble at its origin, replicating in both directions until the forks meet opposite it.

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One origin is enough because a prokaryotic chromosome is comparatively short — this does not hold for the much longer chromosomes of eukaryotes.