Final answer:
The process described is DNA replication, where each DNA strand serves as a template for creating a new complementary strand, resulting in two daughter DNA molecules with identical nucleotide sequences to the original DNA. The correct option is C
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of making an identical copy of a section of DNA, using existing DNA as a template for the synthesis of new DNA strands, is known as replication. During DNA replication, a number of different enzymes, including DNA polymerase, work together to separate the two strands of the original DNA.
Each strand is then used as a template to synthesize complementary strands, resulting in two new daughter DNA molecules. Each contains one original strand and one newly synthesized strand, which makes the process semiconservative.
Replication is a critical biological process, essential for cell division, and ensures that each new cell receives an exact copy of the DNA. This is different from transcription, where DNA is copied into RNA, or translation, where RNA is used to produce proteins.