Final answer:
DNA replication relies on the base pairing rules where adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine. These rules ensure the DNA's double helix structure is maintained during replication, with mutations arising from changes in base sequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA replication is a fundamental biological process that occurs in cells. It involves complementary base pairing, where adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T) through two hydrogen bonds, and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G) through three hydrogen bonds.
The two strands of the DNA double helix are antiparallel, with one strand running in the 5' to 3' direction and the other in the 3' to 5' direction.
The uniform distance maintained between the two strands of DNA due to these specific base pairings is crucial for the stable structure of the DNA double helix.
DNA polymerase, a key enzyme in the process, adds nucleotides to a growing DNA strand that is complementary to the template strand.
This results in the formation of a daughter DNA double helix, which is a copy of the original, containing one parental strand and one newly synthesized strand.
During replication, if the sequence of one strand is known, the sequence of the other can be deduced based on these base pairing rules. However, any change in the sequence of these bases can lead to mutations, altering the genetic code.