During DNA replication, which statement is correct?

During DNA replication, which statement is correct?

• A. Hydrogen bonds are broken during replication
• B. Semi-conservative replication with both strands used as templates
• C. Nucleotides line up randomly
• D. DNA polymerase is not involved in replication

Answer: (B)

DNA replication preserves genetic information by producing two daughter molecules, each containing one original (parental) strand and one newly synthesized strand. This semi-conservative mechanism happens because each original strand serves as a template for its complementary partner, guided by specific base-pairing rules and carried out by DNA polymerase, which extends the new strand in the 5′ to 3′ direction. Hydrogen bonds must be broken to separate the strands, but that step describes separation rather than how the information is copied, nucleotides do not line up randomly but pair specifically (A with T, G with C), and DNA polymerase is essential for synthesis. Thus, the described semi-conservative replication with both strands used as templates best explains how replication works.

DNA replication preserves genetic information by producing two daughter molecules, each containing one original (parental) strand and one newly synthesized strand. This semi-conservative mechanism happens because each original strand serves as a template for its complementary partner, guided by specific base-pairing rules and carried out by DNA polymerase, which extends the new strand in the 5′ to 3′ direction. Hydrogen bonds must be broken to separate the strands, but that step describes separation rather than how the information is copied, nucleotides do not line up randomly but pair specifically (A with T, G with C), and DNA polymerase is essential for synthesis. Thus, the described semi-conservative replication with both strands used as templates best explains how replication works.