Here's a breakdown of the process:
* DNA is a double helix: It consists of two strands of nucleotides (adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine) linked together by hydrogen bonds.
* Unwinding and separating: The two strands of DNA are unwound and separated by an enzyme called helicase.
* Base pairing: Each separated strand serves as a template for the creation of a new complementary strand. Free nucleotides in the cell pair up with their corresponding base on the template strand (A with T, and G with C).
* Joining the nucleotides: An enzyme called DNA polymerase adds the new nucleotides to the growing strand, forming a new DNA molecule.
* Two identical copies: The end result is two identical DNA molecules, each containing one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
This process ensures that when a cell divides, each daughter cell receives a complete copy of the genetic information.
