3 - DNA Replication I

• DNA replication is the complete, faithful copying of DNA
• DNA replication is semi-conservative: each strand of the parental double helix acts as a template for synthesis of a new daughter DNA strand
• In DNA replication, complementary bases are added to bases on the template strand
• DNA synthesis is unidirectional (5'-->3')
• Complementary base pairing to the template strand in DNA replication ensures that each daugher double-helix is identical to the parental double-helix so the daughter cell receives identical DNA molecules
• Chromosome replication is bidirectional and initiates at discrete sites