This document discusses the structure and replication of DNA. Some key points:
- DNA is composed of sugars, phosphates, and nitrogen bases. Its double-helix structure was discovered by Watson and Crick in 1953.
- Before cell division, the cell must replicate its DNA. Replication involves unwinding the DNA double helix and using each strand as a template to synthesize a new complementary strand.
- DNA replication is semi-conservative - each new DNA molecule contains one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
- DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand while using the template strand as a guide to maintain the base-pairing rules.