Question 5: The human genome contains about 3 billion base pairs. During the first cell division after fertilization of a human embryo, S phase is approximately three hours long. Assuming an average DNA polymerase rate of 50 nucleotides/second over the entire S phase, what is the minimum number of origins of replication you would expect to find in the human genome

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Darryl Yates

Biology

12 November, 14:15

Question 5: The human genome contains about 3 billion base pairs. During the first cell division after fertilization of a human embryo, S phase is approximately three hours long. Assuming an average DNA polymerase rate of 50 nucleotides/second over the entire S phase, what is the minimum number of origins of replication you would expect to find in the human genome

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Damien · Answer 1

5556.

Explanation:

By the orientation of this question, we will not take in account the information in literature that states that human genome has tens of thousands origin of replication.

Simple math: 3 hours equals 180 minutes, 10800 seconds. Assuming a DNA pol rate of 50 nucleotides/second, we are talking about 540000 nucleotides by every origin of replication on the S phase time.

If the homan genome is about 3 billion base pairs long, 3,000,000/540000 = 5555.55, and goes round up to 5556 for the matter of this question.