A new research study has revealed the mechanism behind how DNA is copied during cell division. The findings, published in the journal Cell, could lead to a better understanding of how mutations occur and how cells can be manipulated.

Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered that when a cell divides, its DNA is copied into two identical copies. The process is known as DNA replication, and it is essential for the growth, development, and repair of cells.

The researchers used a technique called single-molecule imaging to observe the replication process at the molecular level. They observed that the DNA strands are first unwound by enzymes and then pulled apart by proteins. The proteins then help to replicate the strands, creating two identical copies.

This new insight into the replication process provides important information about how mutations can occur and how cells can be manipulated. The findings could have implications for treatments of various diseases, such as cancer.

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source: Phys.org