DNA replication is described as semi conservative. This means that the two parental strands separate and each makes a new copy of itself . After one round or cycle of replication, the DNA of the two daughter molecules will each be made up of a combination of one old strand and one new strand. When a process is said to be strictly conservative, the parent molecule will direct synthesis of an entirely new double stranded molecule, such that one molecule will be conserved as two old strands while the other will be have two brand new strands, after one round of replication.