DNA replication is the process by which a cell makes an identical copy of its DNA. This occurs before a cell divides, ensuring that each new cell receives the same genetic information. The process begins when the DNA double helix unwinds and separates into two strands, creating a "replication fork."
Each original strand serves as a template for creating a new complementary strand. Enzymes called DNA polymerases add nucleotides to the growing strands, matching them with the corresponding bases on the original strands. This results in two identical DNA molecules, each containing one original and one new strand, ready for cell division.
