Which statement best describes eukaryotic DNA replication?

Which statement best describes eukaryotic DNA replication?

• A. It begins at a single origin and forms one replication bubble
• B. It has many origins and replication bubbles, enabling faster replication
• C. It has many origins and replication bubbles, which makes replication slower
• D. It occurs only during meiosis

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that eukaryotic DNA replication uses many origins of replication so the genome can be copied in parallel. During S-phase, multiple origins fire and form replication bubbles that expand as two replication forks move outward. Because many forks work at once, large chromosomes can be copied more quickly than if there were only a single origin. The other statements don’t fit because eukaryotes do not rely on a single origin, and having multiple origins actually speeds up replication rather than slows it; plus replication occurs in S-phase for all dividing cells, not only during meiosis.

The main idea is that eukaryotic DNA replication uses many origins of replication so the genome can be copied in parallel. During S-phase, multiple origins fire and form replication bubbles that expand as two replication forks move outward. Because many forks work at once, large chromosomes can be copied more quickly than if there were only a single origin. The other statements don’t fit because eukaryotes do not rely on a single origin, and having multiple origins actually speeds up replication rather than slows it; plus replication occurs in S-phase for all dividing cells, not only during meiosis.