Summary:
- DNA replication is a semi-conservative process because half of the parent DNA molecule is conserved in each of the two daughter DNA molecules.
- DNA replication begins when an enzyme, DNA helicase, breaks the bonds between complementary bases in DNA.
- This exposes the bases inside the molecule so they can be “read” by another enzyme and used to build two new DNA strands.
- The two daughter molecules that result each contain one strand from the parent molecule and one new strand that is complementary to it.