DNA Replication and the Transmission of Genetic Information: A Molecular Mechanism Perspective

DNA replication, as the foundation of genetic information transmission and the continuity of life, relies on high fidelity and dynamic regulatory mechanisms that are central to maintaining genome stability. Through literature analysis, this review systematically summarizes the core molecular mechanisms of DNA replication initiation, elongation, proofreading, and repair, while comparing the commonalities and differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Comparative analysis demonstrates that while prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA replication share conserved high-fidelity principles, they exhibit fundamental mechanistic divergences. Advances in technologies such as cryo-electron microscopy have uncovered the structure and dynamics of the replication machinery and its coupling with epigenetic regulation. Future research should employ integrative multi-omics approaches to decipher the spatiotemporal regulation of replication, facilitating therapeutic interventions for replication-associated pathologies including cancer.