DNA replication is
A. Continuous and conservative
B. Discontinuous and semiconservative
C. Semi-discontinuous and semiconservative
D. Conservative and semi discontinuous

Answer

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Hint: DNA replication is the process of the multiplication of DNA. During replication one strand of DNA forms continuously while the other forms in fragments. Moreover, every new DNA molecule has a new and an old strand because the old strand acts as a template for the new strand.

Complete step by step answer: During the process of DNA replication, the replication occurs on one strand continuously. This strand is known as the leading daughter strand. On the other hand, replication occurs discontinuously on the other strand. Small fragments of DNA are created. These fragments are known as the Okazaki fragments. This strand is known as the lagging daughter strand. This happens because during the replication process the whole of the DNA does not unwind once in a single opening. Instead, the DNA unfolds in several segments creating several replication forks. Due to this reason, replication occurs continuously on one strand and discontinuously on the other strand. This is known as the semi-discontinuous mode of replication. Every new DNA molecule that is formed has a new and an old strand of the DNA. Thus, during DNA replication, entirely new DNA copies are not generated. This is because each of the parental strands acts as a template strand for the formation of new DNA molecules. Due to this reason, the DNA has a semiconservative mode of replicating, where the original half of the DNA is conserved and only a new strand is created to intertwine with it. Thus, based on the above information we can conclude that DNA replication is Semidiscontinuous and semiconservative.
Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Replication is the process of the formation of a new strand of DNA from an old one that is known as the parental or the template DNA. The concept of DNA replication was proposed by Watson and Crick along with their double helix structure of the DNA.