DNA replication or repair occurs in a cell in all of the following situations, EXCEPT when

Biology · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021

Answered on

DNA replication or repair occurs in a cell in many situations as it is crucial for maintaining the genetic integrity and passing genetic information from cell to cell, or from an organism to its progeny. DNA replication occurs during the S phase of the cell cycle, prior to cell division, ensuring that each daughter cell receives an accurate copy of the parent cell's DNA. DNA repair, on the other hand, can happen at any time during the cell cycle, and is a response to damage caused by factors such as ultraviolet light, chemicals, or errors during DNA replication.

Situations where DNA replication or repair occurs include:

1. Before cell division (replication).

2. After the DNA is damaged by environmental factors (repair).

3. When there are errors in the DNA after replication (mismatch repair).

4. When the cell is preparing to divide, and it needs to ensure that all genetic information is correct (replication and cell cycle checkpoints).

The question implies there are situations where DNA replication or repair does not occur. One example of such a situation would be:

- When the cell is in G0 phase (a resting state where it has left the cell cycle) or is terminally differentiated and no longer divides. In such cases, DNA replication may not be necessary because the cell is not preparing for division. However, DNA repair can still occur since protecting the genetic material is vital regardless of the cell’s replicative state.

In the context of your question, DNA replication or repair would not typically occur during the G0 phase in terms of replication because the cell is not preparing for division. Repair, however, is a process that can still continue to maintain the genomic integrity.