Can tell the difference between an original and replicated strand of DNA?

Question

Somebody...Anybody...HELP ME PLEASE!

Answer 1

I don't know how specific of an answer you want, but in general, the strands are supposed to be exactly the same when replication is complete. So, no you can't tell the difference.

However, I have some more complex information for you......

Polymerases do make mistakes, and the new strand may contain a sequence error that the original template did not possess. I can't think of an easy way (or an economical method) to identify the mistake though, and still I am not sure if you found a mistake you would know which was the original strand and which one was the freshly created one. You would simply know that there was a mistake.

But, some scientists can follow DNA mistakes in many, many family members, and create a pedigree to figure out who first generated the "mistake". But I don't think this is what your really asking.

There are ways that a cell can be manipulated in the laboratory, so one would be able to differentiate the original strand from the daughter strand (like you could feed the cell a nucleotide that is radio-labeled) then compare the cells after replication is complete. Only the new strand would contain the radio-labeled nucleotides. This famous experiment was performed early on in the history of DNA, and helped confirm that DNA was the inheritable molecule that passed on genetic information (and phenotypes) from generation to generation. I think the answer to your question lies in this landmark study.

Just to make things more interesting I will add this: I think I am correct in saying that embryonic cells, when replicating DNA for the first time, would have different methylation patterns (one from Mom, and one from Dad), and so one could differentiate the two strands by studying the "methylome" of Dad, Mom, and embryo. This is a specialized study of genetics called "Epigenetics". Still, this just tells you which strand came from which parent. Both would be considered "original" strands.

It was fun answering your interesting question. Pass on the good Karma!

Answer 2

There is no difference. That is the whole point. The two strands are identical, unless a mistake was made in the transcription, in which case the new cell has real problems, and the organism may as well, depending on the type of cell and the type of error. And don't forget - the "original" strand is also a replicated strand from a previous cell division.

Answer 3

Not unless, during replication, a mutation occurred.

Answer 4

it's an exact replica..
for ex. if a bacteria cell devides the genetic matreial(DNA) replicate..if it's different it wont be the same bacterial cell....
no we can't tell them apart..
this is what I think.

Answer 5

Maybe if you radiolabeled