How DNA Copies Itself


DNA replication is a fundamental process underlying biological inheritance that occurs in all living organisms to accurately copy their DNA. This process occurs through a "semiconservative" mechanism where each strand of the original double-stranded DNA molecule serves as template for the production of a new complementary DNA strand. As the result of DNA replication, two identical DNA molecules are produced from a single double-stranded DNA molecule, each strand containing an original strand of DNA from the parental molecule and a new complimentary "daughter" strand that is bound to it. Cellular proofreading and error-checking mechanisms ensure near perfect fidelity for DNA replication, making less than one error per one billion bases -- one thousand times more accurate than the best computer.

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/08/how_dna_is_replicated_in_a_liv.php

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