DNA Replication/ Protein Synthesis

DNA Replication is the process of replicating a DNA strand in a semi- conservative sense. First the Helicase comes in and unwind the strands by breaking the hydrogen bond. Then the RNA primase adds short sequences of RNA to both strands (the primer). Thirdly the primer allows DNA polymerase III to bind and start replication. Then DNA polymerase III adds nucleotides to each template strand in a 5'→3' direction. These nucleotides are initially deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates but they lose two phosphate groups during the replication process to release energy. One strand is replicated in a continuous manner in the same direction as the replication fork (leading strand. The other strand is replicated in fragments (Okazaki fragments) in the opposite direction (lagging strand). Then the DNA polymerase I removes the RNA primers and replaces them with DNA. Finally, DNA ligase then joins the Okazaki fragments together to form a continuous strand

Protein synthesis is one of the most fundamental biological processes by which individual cells build their specific proteins. Within the process are involved both DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and different in their function ribonucleic acids (RNA). The process is initiated in the cell’s nucleus, where specific enzymes unwind the needed section of DNA, which makes the DNA in this region accessible and a RNA copy can be made. This RNA molecule then moves from the nucleus to the cell cytoplasm, where the actual the process of protein synthesis take place.

DNA Structure

Today in class we discussed the DNA structure as shown below and started cutting out a paper model for it. The structure was discovered by James Waston, and we also learned that there are 4 different bases including Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T) and Guanine (G) and we learn that A is complementary with T while C is complementary with G.

Colored flower/ Extra fingers

According to the book Survival of the sickest, the flowers appears to be this way because of an inherited mutation in its cells. Since scientists found that mutations are inherited when they are beneficial or neutral, therefore this mutation most probably increase the chances of its survival, for example a camouflage while at the same time it may also have no effects on the survival of this species. 

As Your Inner Fish mentioned, hands with extra fingers is due to the ZPA (very similar to the sonic hedgehog genes), specifically too much skin concentrated in a ZPA zone. These genes contains the instructions for a body to construct fingers, and most probably there's extra ZPA gene thus causing more fingers to grow from the baby's hand.