What role does DNA play in cellular replication?

What role does DNA play in cellular replication?

• A. It acts as a template for its own duplication.
• B. It provides energy for the cell.
• C. It remains unchanged during replication.
• D. It is degraded to allow replication.

Answer: (A)

DNA serves as the template for its own duplication. When a cell prepares to divide, the double helix unwinds and each original strand guides the synthesis of a new complementary strand. By using base-pairing rules (A pairs with T, C with G), DNA polymerases add the correct nucleotides to form two new double helices. Each new molecule ends up with one old strand and one new strand, a process called semi-conservative replication. This precise copying is how genetic information is passed to daughter cells. DNA itself does not provide energy for replication (that energy comes from cellular metabolism and nucleotide substrates), and replication uses the intact template strands rather than degrading DNA.

DNA serves as the template for its own duplication. When a cell prepares to divide, the double helix unwinds and each original strand guides the synthesis of a new complementary strand. By using base-pairing rules (A pairs with T, C with G), DNA polymerases add the correct nucleotides to form two new double helices. Each new molecule ends up with one old strand and one new strand, a process called semi-conservative replication. This precise copying is how genetic information is passed to daughter cells. DNA itself does not provide energy for replication (that energy comes from cellular metabolism and nucleotide substrates), and replication uses the intact template strands rather than degrading DNA.