What does the template strand provide for the synthesis of the new strand?

What does the template strand provide for the synthesis of the new strand?

• A. A Guide for Synthesis of the New Complementary Strand
• B. It Becomes the New Strand
• C. It Is Discarded After Replication
• D. It Anchors the Replication Fork

Answer: (A)

During DNA replication, the template strand serves as the guide for building the new complementary strand. The polymerase reads this strand and adds nucleotides that pair with it—A with T and G with C—in the 5′ to 3′ direction to create a new strand that is complementary to the template. This pairing establishes the semi-conservative model, where each new double helix contains one old (template) strand and one new strand. The template strand isn’t the same as the new strand, and it isn’t discarded or used to anchor the replication fork; it remains as part of the double helix while guiding synthesis of its partner.

During DNA replication, the template strand serves as the guide for building the new complementary strand. The polymerase reads this strand and adds nucleotides that pair with it—A with T and G with C—in the 5′ to 3′ direction to create a new strand that is complementary to the template. This pairing establishes the semi-conservative model, where each new double helix contains one old (template) strand and one new strand. The template strand isn’t the same as the new strand, and it isn’t discarded or used to anchor the replication fork; it remains as part of the double helix while guiding synthesis of its partner.