What feature of DNA enables replication?

What feature of DNA enables replication?

• A. Complementary base pairing enables replication
• B. The double helix structure
• C. The phosphate-sugar backbone
• D. The presence of RNA primers

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that replication relies on complementary base pairing to copy the genetic information accurately. As the two DNA strands separate, each strand serves as a template. DNA polymerase adds nucleotides that pair with the exposed bases on the template strand: A with T and C with G. This rule guides the exact placement of nucleotides on the new strand, producing a faithful copy of the original sequence. The double helix and the phosphate-sugar backbone provide structure, but they don’t determine the sequence being copied. RNA primers are needed to start synthesis in practice, but they are not a feature of DNA itself and aren’t what enables the copying process.

The key idea is that replication relies on complementary base pairing to copy the genetic information accurately. As the two DNA strands separate, each strand serves as a template. DNA polymerase adds nucleotides that pair with the exposed bases on the template strand: A with T and C with G. This rule guides the exact placement of nucleotides on the new strand, producing a faithful copy of the original sequence. The double helix and the phosphate-sugar backbone provide structure, but they don’t determine the sequence being copied. RNA primers are needed to start synthesis in practice, but they are not a feature of DNA itself and aren’t what enables the copying process.