Final answer:
DNA replication ensures that each new daughter cell receives a complete genetic code from the parent cell during cell division, preserving genetic information and allowing for growth, development, and inheritance. This replication process also permits genetic variation when combined with mutation and genetic recombination, which are essential for evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA replication is necessary to pass on genetic information to new daughter cells. This process ensures that when a cell divides, each new daughter cell receives a complete set of genetic information from the parent cell. This genetic information, contained in the DNA sequence, is what defines the individuality and identity of an organism and is crucial for inheritance, growth, development, and long-term survival of the species.
Cell division and DNA replication are also fundamental processes that contribute to the continuity of life, enabling organisms to reproduce, whether asexually or sexually. In sexual reproduction, DNA replication allows for the correct passage of genetic information through meiosis and fertilization, leading to genetic diversity and evolution. It is this mechanism of replication that ensures the fidelity of genetic transmission and allows for the necessary variation that fuels natural selection.
DNA's replication is crucial in preserving the specific characteristics and heritable information of all organisms to sustain life's continuity across generations. It is also a key player in allowing changes that can lead to evolution when combined with mechanisms like mutation and genetic recombination during meiosis.