DNA exists mostly as a double-stranded molecule. Because of how the strands are organized and held together by specific

[answerhappygod]

DNA exists mostly as a double-stranded molecule. Because of howthe strands are organized and held together by specific hydrogenbond patterns (i.e. base pairing). To replicate DNA, the twostrands are separated, and new nucleotides are brought in tobase-pair with each of the strands using base-pairing rules. So theoriginal strand P1 (parent 1) will be the template to form a newstrand D2 (daughter 2) which will be complementary to the parentstrand but not identical to it. It will, instead, be identical tothe original strand P2 (which is why I numbered it "2"). Theoriginal strand P2 will be the template to form a new complementarydaughter strand A1. The result is two new sets of double-strandedDNA. P1 paired with D2 and P2 paired with D1.So far, so good. Now, here is what I want you to think andwrite about this week:
We think, early in life's history, it's possible (maybe evenlikely) that the original molecule of heredity was RNA, orsomething more like RNA, whichis not double-stranded. In cells likeours, and even like a prokaryotes, RNA is almost always createdusing DNA as a template, notRNA. So... using the information from your lecture, textbook, andnotes: tell me how you think single-stranded RNA would havebeen replicated. Thinkabout initiation, elongation,and termination, to help you organizeyour hypothesis.(Hint:there are "things" that are capable ofusing an RNA template to replicate RNA.)(Second hint: if you replicate a single strand ofRNA, did you actually make a copy?)