Every time a cell divides, it must copy its entire genome so that each daughter cell inherits a complete set of DNA. During that process, enzymes known as polymerases race along the DNA to copy its ...

For almost 60 years, scientists have tried to understand why DNA doesn't replicate wildly and uncontrollably every time a cell divides, which happens constantly. Without this process, we would die.

Scientists have discovered that a protein once thought to simply help load a factor necessary for the copying of DNA, actually plays a key role in ensuring fast and reliable replication—an insight ...