Quick Check Read Chapter 9, Biological Information pages 117 to 120. Biological information can be inherited from one generation to the next. Cell growth and cell division proceeds through a well defined series of steps and stages called the cell cycle. The stage of the cell cycle where DNA synthesis takes place is called the G1 stage. Large multicellular animals are essentially clones of millions and millions of genetically identical cells.
Bacterial chromosomes consist of lots of short lengths of DNA joined together by proteins.
Nucleosomes are the basic units of eukaryotic chromosome structure. The synthesis of new DNA molecules begins when a point of origin is placed close to a point of termination. Eukaryotic chromosomes have multiple points of origin and multiple termini. Proteins are used to separate the two strands of the DNA molecule when replication begins. Nucleotide monophosphates are the precursors for the synthesis of the new DNA strands.