Final answer:
During DNA replication, new base pairs form according to Chargaff's rule, with adenine (A) pairing with thymine (T) and guanine (G) pairing with cytosine (C). This ensures that the genetic information is preserved and accurately passed on to the daughter cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the replication of a DNA molecule, new base pairs must be formed according to Chargaff's rule. This is a fundamental concept in molecular biology, stating that in DNA, the amount of adenine (A) is equal to thymine (T), and the amount of guanine (G) is equal to cytosine (C). Therefore, A will always pair with T, and G will pair with C, which is crucial for the integrity and function of the DNA molecule during and after replication.
The replication process begins with the separation of the two strands in the parental DNA molecule. Each separated strand acts as a template for the formation of a new complementary strand. The enzyme DNA Polymerase reads the template strand and facilitates the incorporation of new nucleotides into the growing strand based on complementary base pairing: A pairs with T, and G pairs with C. For example, if the sequence of one strand is 5'-AATTGGCC-3', the complementary strand created would be 3'-TTAACCGG-5'.