DNA replication produces what kind of copy relative to the original template?

• A. It produces an identical copy of the original DNA strand
• B. It produces many different sequences
• C. It produces only the leading strand
• D. It produces RNA primers only

Answer: (A)

DNA replication creates an identical copy of the genetic information carried by the original DNA. The process is semiconservative, so each new double-stranded molecule contains one old (template) strand and one newly synthesized strand. Base-pairing rules (A with T, G with C) ensure the new strand is complementary to its template, and when paired together, the two daughter molecules preserve the same sequence as the original. So the copies carry the same genetic information as the original. It’s not about producing different sequences, and replication copies both strands (not just a leading strand), with RNA primers only serving as starting points before being replaced by DNA.