The biological information stored in the DNA must be exactly replicated and transmitted to the daughter cells. There are three modes of accomplishing this task.
They are conservative, dispersive and semi-conservative mode of replication (Figure 3.2).
Figure 3.2 Possible modes of DNA replication
- Conservative replication: The original DNA molecule remains intact and a completely new daughter DNA molecule is generated.
- Dispersive replication: It produces two DNA molecules with sections of both old and new DNAs interspersed along each strand.
- Semi-conservative replication: Each strand of the parent DNA acts as the template for the synthesis of complementary daughter DNA. Thus, this mode of replication produces molecules with both old and new DNAs composed of one old strand and one newly synthesized strand.
MODES OF DNA REPLICATION