How does semi-conservative replication function?

Semi-conservative replication is a process by which DNA is copied during cell division. The term "semi-conservative" refers to the way the new DNA molecules are formed. In this process, each of the two strands of the original DNA helix serves as a template for the formation of a new complementary strand.

When the two strands of the DNA double helix are separated, each original strand (the parent strand) is used to create a new strand. Consequently, each of the resulting two double helices is made up of one original template strand and one newly synthesized strand. This means that the genetic information is conserved in the original strand while the new strand is synthesized based on the complementary base-pairing rules.

This mechanism of replication ensures that each daughter cell receives an identical copy of the DNA. The combination of the old and new strands in each helix exemplifies the semi-conservative nature of the process, which allows both the preservation and the accurate duplication of genetic information for future generations of cells.