Which feature of DNA’s structure provides the chemical basis for the semiconservative replication mechanism?
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Correct answer: Antiparallel strands with complementary base-pairing
DNA’s antiparallel strands and complementary A–T and G–C base-pairing allow each parental strand to serve as a template — enabling semiconservative replication.
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More DNA Structure and Replication questions
- If a toxin specifically inhibited DNA primase, which process would be directly impaired during DNA replication?
- Which statement correctly describes how replication forks proceed on circular prokaryotic chromosomes?
- Which model correctly describes how DNA replication conserves parental strands during duplication?
- Which enzyme is responsible for unwinding the DNA double helix at the replication fork by breaking hydrogen bonds between base pairs?
- Why must DNA replication be initiated with a primer rather than directly by DNA polymerase?
- What distinguishes leading-strand synthesis from lagging-strand synthesis during DNA replication?