What is the role of the template strand in DNA replication?

What is the role of the template strand in DNA replication?

• A. It Serves as a Guide for the Synthesis of the New Complementary Strand
• B. It Becomes the Leading Strand
• C. It Is Degraded After Replication
• D. It Is Not Used

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that DNA replication uses a template strand to determine the sequence of the new strand. The template strand provides the pattern of bases that guides which nucleotides are added, because each base pairs specifically (A with T, C with G). DNA polymerase reads the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction and builds the new strand in the 5' to 3' direction, producing a complementary copy. In semi-conservative replication, each original strand serves as a template for a new complementary strand, so after replication both double helices contain one old (template) strand and one new strand. The template strand isn’t degraded and it isn’t itself the newly formed leading strand; the leading strand is simply the product of synthesis on one template, extended continuously toward the fork.

The main idea here is that DNA replication uses a template strand to determine the sequence of the new strand. The template strand provides the pattern of bases that guides which nucleotides are added, because each base pairs specifically (A with T, C with G). DNA polymerase reads the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction and builds the new strand in the 5' to 3' direction, producing a complementary copy. In semi-conservative replication, each original strand serves as a template for a new complementary strand, so after replication both double helices contain one old (template) strand and one new strand. The template strand isn’t degraded and it isn’t itself the newly formed leading strand; the leading strand is simply the product of synthesis on one template, extended continuously toward the fork.