In semi-conservative replication, each daughter DNA molecule retains one original strand and gains one new complementary strand. Meselson–Stahl isotope evidence supports the model.
The confirmation of DNA as the genetic material, together with the elucidation of its structure by Crick and Watson, had a profound effect on modern biology.
Outline the reason that DNA replication is described as semi-conservative.
a. replication is forming new DNA/strands from existing DNA/strands;
b. nucleotides added to exposed bases/to exposed strand/to bases on the template strand;
c. complementary base pairing (between free nucleotides and template/existing strands);
d. both strands/lagging and leading strands of the (parent) DNA act as templates/OWTTE;
e. one newly synthesized strand and one original/conserved strand (in daughter molecules);
c. Reject base pairs added
rather than bases.