<P> DNA polymerase adds a new strand of DNA by extending the 3 ' end of an existing nucleotide chain , adding new nucleotides matched to the template strand one at a time via the creation of phosphodiester bonds . The energy for this process of DNA polymerization comes from hydrolysis of the high - energy phosphate ( phosphoanhydride ) bonds between the three phosphates attached to each unincorporated base . Free bases with their attached phosphate groups are called nucleotides ; in particular , bases with three attached phosphate groups are called nucleoside triphosphates . When a nucleotide is being added to a growing DNA strand , the formation of a phosphodiester bond between the proximal phosphate of the nucleotide to the growing chain is accompanied by hydrolysis of a high - energy phosphate bond with release of the two distal phosphates as a pyrophosphate . Enzymatic hydrolysis of the resulting pyrophosphate into inorganic phosphate consumes a second high - energy phosphate bond and renders the reaction effectively irreversible . </P>
<P> DNA polymerase adds a new strand of DNA by extending the 3 ' end of an existing nucleotide chain , adding new nucleotides matched to the template strand one at a time via the creation of phosphodiester bonds . The energy for this process of DNA polymerization comes from hydrolysis of the high - energy phosphate ( phosphoanhydride ) bonds between the three phosphates attached to each unincorporated base . Free bases with their attached phosphate groups are called nucleotides ; in particular , bases with three attached phosphate groups are called nucleoside triphosphates . When a nucleotide is being added to a growing DNA strand , the formation of a phosphodiester bond between the proximal phosphate of the nucleotide to the growing chain is accompanied by hydrolysis of a high - energy phosphate bond with release of the two distal phosphates as a pyrophosphate . Enzymatic hydrolysis of the resulting pyrophosphate into inorganic phosphate consumes a second high - energy phosphate bond and renders the reaction effectively irreversible . </P>
where does the energy for replication come from
where does the energy for replication come from
high - energy phosphate ( phosphoanhydride )
high - energy phosphate ( phosphoanhydride )