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 error-free repair of a double-strand break in DNA in which the centromere-proximal end of a broken chromosome searches for a homologous region in an intact chromosome. DNA synthesis initiates from the 3' end of the invading DNA strand, using the intact chromosome as the template, and progresses to the end of the chromosome.

The process in which interchain hydrogen bonds between two strands of DNA are broken or 'melted', generating unpaired template strands for DNA replication.

The cellular metabolic process in which a cell duplicates one or more molecules of DNA. DNA replication begins when specific sequences, known as origins of replication, are recognized and bound by initiation proteins, and ends when the original DNA molecule has been completely duplicated and the copies topologically separated. The unit of replication usually corresponds to the genome of the cell, an organelle, or a virus. The template for replication can either be an existing DNA molecule or RNA.

Any process that modulates the frequency, rate or extent of initiation of DNA-dependent DNA replication; the process in which DNA becomes competent to replicate. In eukaryotes, replication competence is established in early G1 and lost during the ensuing S phase.

A hexameric protein complex required for the initiation and regulation of DNA replication.

A protein complex that contains Mcm4, Mcm6, and Mcm7 proteins, and possesses DNA helicase activity. In the heterohexameric MCM complex, the Mcm4/6/7 proteins form a stable core, and Mcm2, Mcm3, and Mcm5 are more peripherally associated.

All of the contents of a cell excluding the plasma membrane and nucleus, but including other subcellular structures.

A protein complex that contains the GINS complex, Cdc45p, and the heterohexameric MCM complex, and that is involved in unwinding DNA during replication.

A protein-DNA complex assembled at eukaryotic DNA replication origins during late mitosis and G1, allowing the origin to become competent, or 'licensed', for replication. The complex normally includes the origin recognition complex (ORC), Cdc6, Cdt1 and the MiniChromosome Maintenance (Mcm2-7) proteins.