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rolling circle mechanism

(Science: molecular biology) A mechanism of dNA replication in many viral dNAs, in bacterial f factors during mating and of certain DNAs in gene amplification in eukaryotes.

dNA synthesis starts with a cut in the _ strand at the replication origin, the 5' end rolls out and replication starts at the 3' side of the cut around the intact circular DNA strand. Replication of the 5' end (tail) takes place by the formation of okazaki fragments.