Final answer:
In rolling circle replication, each strand is being replicated sequentially, starting with an enzymatic nick and using DNA polymerase III. This process is semiconservative, resulting in two DNA molecules each containing one original strand and one new strand.
Step-by-step explanation:
In rolling circle replication, each strand is being replicated sequentially. This means that when a circular DNA molecule like a plasmid undergoes replication, an enzyme creates a nick in one strand of the DNA molecule, and DNA polymerase III begins to replicate the DNA using the intact strand as a template. This process displaces the nicked strand, which may later be used as a template for synthesis of a complementary strand, resulting in two complete DNA molecules. Rolling circle replication is different from the bidirectional replication seen in most prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and is a key mechanism for DNA replication in some viruses and plasmids.
Furthermore, this method of replication is described as semiconservative, as each of the resulting DNA molecules contains one original template strand from the parental DNA and one newly synthesized strand. This ensures that the genetic material is passed on accurately during cell division.