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Imagine you are able to watch DNA replication under a microscope in a mutant strain of bacteria. DNA replication appears to proceed normally, but at the end of the replication cycle, there are some regions of the DNA that appear to be fragmented and not joined together along the backbone of the DNA molecule. Which enzyme is most likely missing in this bacterial strain?

Answer :

Final answer:

DNA ligase is the enzyme likely to be mutated when the joining of Okazaki fragments is impaired during DNA replication, leading to fragmented DNA in a bacterial strain.

Explanation:

The enzyme suspected to be mutated in the scenario where the joining of Okazaki fragments is impaired during DNA replication in a bacterial strain is DNA ligase. This crucial enzyme plays a specific role in sealing the nicks between Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand, effectively joining these fragments to form a continuous DNA strand. The process is vital for the accurate and complete replication of the bacterial genome, ensuring that the newly synthesized DNA molecules are intact and fully functional.

DNA ligase's activity is essential for maintaining the integrity of the genetic material, and its absence or malfunction can lead to fragmented DNA, as observed in the mutant strain. This underlines the enzyme's critical role at the replication fork, highlighting its importance in the cellular process of DNA replication.

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Rewritten by : Barada

The enzyme most likely missing in the bacterial strain described, which shows fragmented areas of DNA not joined together, is DNA ligase, responsible for joining Okazaki fragments during DNA replication.

If you observe under a microscope that DNA replication proceeds normally but at the end of the replication cycle, there are regions of the DNA that appear to be fragmented and not joined together, the enzyme most likely missing in this bacterial strain is DNA ligase. DNA ligase is responsible for joining Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand of DNA during replication. Okazaki fragments are short DNA sequences synthesized discontinuously and need to be connected to form a continuous DNA strand. The absence or malfunction of DNA ligase would lead to the impairments described, as it is critical for sealing the nicks between the Okazaki fragments, thus ensuring the continuity of the DNA molecule.