What term describes the process by which each strand of an existing DNA double helix acts as a template for the synthesis of a new strand?

The process where each strand of an existing DNA double helix serves as a template for the synthesis of a new strand is called semi-conservative replication. During this process, each of the two strands of the original DNA molecule separates, and each strand then serves as a template to guide the formation of a new complementary strand. This results in two DNA molecules, each comprising one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.

This method of replication is significant because it ensures that genetic information is conserved and accurately passed on during cell division. The semi-conservative nature of the process helps maintain the integrity of the genetic material, minimizing errors that could arise if the entire original DNA strand were to be preserved or if the genetic material were randomly dispersed.

Other terms such as conservative replication and dispersive replication describe different theories of DNA replication, which have been shown to be incorrect. In conservative replication, it was hypothesized that the entire double helix would remain intact and a completely new double helix would be synthesized, while dispersive replication suggested that parental DNA would be interspersed with newly synthesized DNA in both strands. However, experiments, particularly those conducted by Meselson and Stahl, demonstrated that semi-conservative replication is the accurate model for how DNA replicates.