The process in which DNA-dependent DNA replication is started; this begins with the ATP dependent loading of an initiator complex onto the DNA, this is followed by DNA melting and helicase activity. In bacteria, the gene products that enable the helicase activity are loaded after the initial melting and in archaea and eukaryotes, the gene products that enable the helicase activity are inactive when they are loaded and subsequently activate.

The process in which an existing DNA strand is extended in a net 3' to 5' direction by activities including the addition of nucleotides to the 3' end of the strand, complementary to an existing template, as part of DNA replication. Lagging strand DNA elongation proceeds by discontinuous synthesis of short stretches of DNA, known as Okazaki fragments, from RNA primers; these fragments are then joined by DNA ligase. Although each segment of nascent DNA is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, the overall direction of lagging strand synthesis is 3' to 5', mirroring the progress of the replication fork.

A process in which telomeres are protected from degradation and fusion, thereby ensuring chromosome stability by protecting the ends from both degradation and from being recognized as damaged DNA. May be mediated by specific single- or double-stranded telomeric DNA binding proteins.

A process in which telomeres are protected from degradation and fusion, thereby ensuring chromosome stability by protecting the ends from both degradation and from being recognized as damaged DNA. May be mediated by specific single- or double-stranded telomeric DNA binding proteins.

A process in which telomeres are protected from degradation and fusion, thereby ensuring chromosome stability by protecting the ends from both degradation and from being recognized as damaged DNA. May be mediated by specific single- or double-stranded telomeric DNA binding proteins.

A membrane-bounded organelle of eukaryotic cells in which chromosomes are housed and replicated. In most cells, the nucleus contains all of the cell's chromosomes except the organellar chromosomes, and is the site of RNA synthesis and processing. In some species, or in specialized cell types, RNA metabolism or DNA replication may be absent.

The double lipid bilayer enclosing the nucleus and separating its contents from the rest of the cytoplasm; includes the intermembrane space, a gap of width 20-40 nm (also called the perinuclear space).

A complex of four polypeptides, comprising large and small DNA polymerase alpha subunits and two primase subunits, which catalyzes the synthesis of an RNA primer on the lagging strand of replicating DNA; the smaller of the two primase subunits alone can catalyze oligoribonucleotide synthesis.