Diagram I:
DNA replication has the leading strand and lagging strand. Primase primes both the leading and lagging strands with an RNA primer. However, is more prevalent on the lagging strand as each Okazaki fragment must be primed. DNA polymerase is what synthesizes the new strands of DNA. Helicase leads the replication fork to melt the parental DNA ahead of the fork. Single-stranded binding proteins bind the melted DNA ahead of the replication fork to prevent reannealing and they are removed before the DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA.

Diagram II:
Between every Okazaki fragment there is a gap in the phosphate backbone between newly formed Okazaki fragments. This gap must be filled for the DNA to be considered mature. DNA ligase uses one molecule of ATP to form a phosphodiester bond between the 5’ phosphate and the 3’ OH group between newly formed Okazaki fragments. One molecule of AMP is released upon the formation of the phosphodiester bond.

Diagram III:
Transcription takes place inside the nucleus. Double-stranded DNA enters the RNA polymerase and is separated. A template strand of DNA is read by the RNA polymerase and this allows ribonucleotides to come together to form mRNA. Upon completion of transcription the DNA becomes double stranded again prior to leaving the RNA polymerase and return to the nucleus. The newly formed mRNA is exported to the cytoplasm where it can be read by ribosomes to form proteins.

Translation takes place outside of the nucleus and is the process of forming polypeptides and proteins. mRNA enters the ribosome and is read as a series of codons. Each specific codon is recognized by a specific tRNA which delivers an amino acid to begin forming a polypeptide or protein. A growing protein/polypeptide is a series of amino acids. Translation stops whenever a stop codon appears on the mRNA. When the stop codon appears the mRNA