DNA Replication

DNA replication is the process of copying a double-stranded DNA molecule to form two double-stranded molecules.The process of DNA replication is a fundamental process used by all living organisms as it is the basis for biological inheritance. As each DNA strand holds the same genetic information, both strands can serve as templates for the reproduction of the opposite strand. The template strand is preserved in its entirety and the new strand is assembled from nucleotides. This process is called "semiconservative replication". The resulting double-stranded DNA molecules are identical; proofreading and error-checking mechanisms exist to ensure near perfect fidelity.
In a cell, DNA replication must happen before cell division can occur. DNA synthesis begins at specific locations in the genome, called "origins", where the two strands of DNA are separated..RNA primers attach to single stranded DNA and the enzyme DNA polymerase extends the primers to form new strands of DNA, adding nucleotides matched to the template strand. The unwinding of DNA and synthesis of new strands forms a replication fork. In addition to DNA polymerase, a number of other proteins are associated with the fork and assist in the initiation and continuation of DNA synthesis.
DNA replication can also be performed artificially, using the same enzymes used within the cell. DNA polymerases and artificial DNA primers are used to initiate DNA synthesis at known sequences in a template molecule. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a common laboratory technique, employs artificial synthesis in a cyclic manner to rapidly and specifically amplify a target DNA fragment from a pool of DNA.