Final answer:
DNA replication is the process by which a cell copies its genetic material, ensuring each new cell receives an identical set of DNA. This occurs during the cell's synthesis phase and is fundamental to heredity and cellular function.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA replication is the way in which DNA information is copied throughout the living world. When a cell divides, a process essential for growth and repair, both resulting daughter cells must inherit a complete set of genetic information from the parent cell. This is achieved through DNA replication, which ensures each daughter cell receives an identical sequence of nucleotides. This is how genetic material is preserved across generations.
The structure of DNA lends itself to a simple replication mechanism. DNA's double helix unwinds and separates, allowing each single strand to serve as a template for a new complementary strand. This is facilitated by base pairing rules, where adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine with guanine, ensuring the new strands are exact copies of the original.
DNA replication occurs during the synthesis (S) phase of the eukaryotic cell cycle. The Central Dogma of molecular biology explains how genetic information is then used — transcribed into mRNA and translated into proteins. However, DNA replication is the critical initial step that allows cells to pass on genetic information accurately and reliably, maintaining the hereditary information.