What is the name given to the process of DNA replication?

The process of DNA replication is referred to as semi-conservative because, during replication, each new DNA molecule consists of one original strand from the parent DNA and one newly synthesized strand. This means that when DNA replicates, it conserves half of the original genetic material in each of the daughter strands that are produced.

During the replication process, the double helix of DNA unwinds and separates into two strands. Each of these strands serves as a template for creating a new complementary strand. As a result, after replication is complete, two DNA molecules are formed, each with one old strand and one new strand, ensuring that the genetic information is preserved while allowing for genetic diversity through the incorporation of newly synthesized strands. This semi-conservative nature of DNA replication was established through the Meselson-Stahl experiment, which demonstrated that after one round of replication, the DNA contained an equal mixture of the old and new strands, confirming the semi-conservative model.