When a twist is unwound without cutting the DNA strands or is removed by cutting the strand(s) and resealing, negative supercoils are introduced in the DNA.

[![enter image description here][1]][1]

From Cell and Molecular Biology -Karp


But strangely enough unwinding of DNA by helicase cause the DNA ahead of the primosome to form positive supercoils. Why is it so?

[![enter image description here][2]][2]

From: Molecular cell biology -Lodish

**My speculations:** Underwinding cause the adjacent DNA to overwind and as the DNA overwinds the associated stress developed cause the DNA to form positive supercoils (which would have happened naturally had new twists been introduced in the DNA<sub> (Time:[1:54][3]) </sub>). I wonder why not negative supercoils but positive supercoils (alone?). If so at what point does removing twists no longer introduce negative supercoils but positive supercoils?


  [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/o8fgc.png
  [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/1cv9e.png
  [3]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyP0cEbqKTc