Final answer:
The statement is false. Mismatch repair specifically targets the new DNA strand to correct errors, using the original strand as a template to ensure genetic integrity. Mismatch repair enzymes distinguish between strands and inaccurately repairing the wrong strand can lead to permanent mutations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that it doesn't matter whether DNA mismatch repair replaces the base on the old or the new strand of DNA is false. It is crucial that the repair mechanism distinguishes between the newly synthesized daughter strand and the original parental strand to correct only the errors that have occurred during replication. Mismatch repair specifically targets the new strand because the original strand is used as the template to identify and correct errors. This is evidenced by mechanisms such as methyl-directed mismatch repair in E. coli, where the parental DNA strand is methylated and the daughter strand is not immediately methylated, allowing repair enzymes to differentiate between them.
Replication errors occur during cell division and can lead to mutations if not corrected by mismatch repair enzymes. Mismatch repair involves the detection and excision of the incorrectly added nucleotides, followed by the synthesis of the correct base into the DNA strand to maintain genetic integrity. Failure to repair these mismatches can lead to permanent damage, increasing mutation rates that can have significant biological consequences.