Which statement best describes a role of the original strands during replication?

Which statement best describes a role of the original strands during replication?

• A. They serve as templates for the new strands
• B. They are destroyed
• C. They are translated
• D. They are transcribed

Answer: (A)

During replication, the original strands serve as templates for the new strands. DNA polymerase adds nucleotides that are complementary to each template strand, following base-pair rules, so each new strand is built to pair with its parent strand. As a result, the daughter DNA molecules are semiconservative: each one contains one old (original) strand and one newly synthesized strand. The original strands aren’t destroyed, and replication doesn’t involve translation or transcription—that happens later in the cell, producing RNA and then proteins.

During replication, the original strands serve as templates for the new strands. DNA polymerase adds nucleotides that are complementary to each template strand, following base-pair rules, so each new strand is built to pair with its parent strand. As a result, the daughter DNA molecules are semiconservative: each one contains one old (original) strand and one newly synthesized strand. The original strands aren’t destroyed, and replication doesn’t involve translation or transcription—that happens later in the cell, producing RNA and then proteins.