Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

44.0K
Overview
44.0K
Mismatch Repair01:20

Mismatch Repair

6.8K
Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
6.8K
Proofreading01:31

Proofreading

9.3K
Synthesis of new DNA molecules is carried out by the enzyme DNA polymerase, which adds nucleotides on the daughter strand complementary to the template DNA strand. DNA polymerase has a higher affinity to add the correct base and ensures fidelity during DNA replication. Furthermore,  it exhibits proofreading activity during replication, using an exonuclease domain that cuts off incorrect nucleotides from the nascent DNA strand.
Errors During Replication are Corrected by the DNA Polymerase...
9.3K
Proofreading01:43

Proofreading

61.7K
Overview
61.7K
Genome Copying Errors02:46

Genome Copying Errors

5.2K
DNA replication is a well-evolved process that copies millions of base pairs with high fidelity during each cell division. Occasionally a wrong base or a long stretch of wrong bases may get added to the daughter strands. If the errors are left unchecked, cells might accumulate several mutations that might endanger their  survival. Therefore, the copying errors are checked and repaired at three levels.
5.2K
Translesion DNA Polymerases02:10

Translesion DNA Polymerases

11.3K
Translesion (TLS) polymerases rescue stalled DNA polymerases at sites of damaged bases by replacing the replicative polymerase and installing a nucleotide across the damaged site. Doing so, TLS allows additional time for the cell to repair the damage before resuming regular DNA replication.
TLS polymerases are found in all three domains of life - archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes. Of the different classes of TLS polymerases, members of the Y family are fitted with specialized structures that...
11.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Precursor-Directed Self-Assembly in Hydrothermal Carbon Nitride Nanostructures Revealed by Nano-FTIR.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2026
Same author

Preparation and Characterization of Biopolymeric-Based Orally Dissolving Mucoadhesive Hydrogels Loaded With Rosuvastatin for the Effective Treatment of Aphthous Ulcer.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials·2026
Same author

Design and Experimental Realization of Ultra-High Green Index Electromagnetic Interference Shields With Opposing Magnetic and Conductivity Gradients.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Replication Rate-Information Storage Trade-Off Shapes Genome Architecture Across Domains.

Journal of molecular evolution·2026
Same author

Genome size and nucleotide skews as predictors of bacterial growth rate.

Physical biology·2026
Same author

Effective removal of crystal violet by ligno-cellulosic material and its acid-treated form: characterization, experiments, and modeling.

International journal of phytoremediation·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Proofreading and DNA Repair Assay Using Single Nucleotide Extension and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis
11:08

Proofreading and DNA Repair Assay Using Single Nucleotide Extension and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: June 19, 2018

10.2K

Non-enzymatic error correction in self-replicators without extraneous energy supply.

Koushik Ghosh1, Parthasarthi Sahu1, Shashikanta Barik1

  • 1Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur, India.

Scientific Reports
|February 22, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study presents a simple model for error correction in self-replicating molecules, using only the natural energy gradient for strand growth. This prebiotic mechanism achieves high fidelity without enzymes, mimicking DNA error correction.

Keywords:
Asymmetric cooperativityDNA polymerasesError correction without energy supplyMarkov chain modelingNon-enzymatic error correctionOrder from non-equilibriumPhosphodiester bond catalysisSelf-replication

More Related Videos

Rare Event Detection Using Error-corrected DNA and RNA Sequencing
10:36

Rare Event Detection Using Error-corrected DNA and RNA Sequencing

Published on: August 3, 2018

12.6K
DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation
09:26

DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation

Published on: December 29, 2021

4.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Proofreading and DNA Repair Assay Using Single Nucleotide Extension and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis
11:08

Proofreading and DNA Repair Assay Using Single Nucleotide Extension and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: June 19, 2018

10.2K
Rare Event Detection Using Error-corrected DNA and RNA Sequencing
10:36

Rare Event Detection Using Error-corrected DNA and RNA Sequencing

Published on: August 3, 2018

12.6K
DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation
09:26

DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation

Published on: December 29, 2021

4.9K

Area of Science:

  • Origin of Life
  • Biophysics
  • Theoretical Biology

Background:

  • Accurate nucleic acid replication is crucial for evolution.
  • Modern biological systems use energy-intensive enzymes for error correction.
  • Prebiotic conditions lacked complex enzymatic machinery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a theoretical model for enzyme-free error correction in self-replicating heteropolymers.
  • To investigate error correction mechanisms under prebiotic conditions.
  • To explain the role of thermodynamics and kinetics in early replication fidelity.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a theoretical model based on free-energy gradients and asymmetric cooperativity.
  • Analyzed kinetic discrimination between correct and incorrect base incorporations.
  • Compared model outputs to experimental data on passive base selection and DNA error correction.

Main Results:

  • The model demonstrates enzyme-free kinetic discrimination for accurate base pairing.
  • Achieved error ratios comparable to passive base selection processes ([Formula: see text]).
  • Replicated key features of DNA error correction, including stalling, fraying, and speed-accuracy trade-off.

Conclusions:

  • A minimal, enzyme-free model can achieve high fidelity in self-replicating systems.
  • The thermodynamic gradient driving strand elongation is a sufficient energy source for error correction.
  • Catalysis of phosphodiester bonds plays a key role in prebiotic error correction, enabling molecular order from non-equilibrium dynamics.