Explain the concept of semiconservative replication and how simultaneous copying of both strands of ...

 During replication, only one of the two strands is used as a template (called the parental strand) to form a complementary strand called the progeny (or daughter) strand. Therefore, because only one of the two parental strands is needed for replication, it is considered partially (or semi-) conservative. Simultaneous copying of both strands of DNA is accomplished by opening the DNA double helix and copying the DNA in both directions, forming a replication bubble. One of the DNA strands (the leading strand) is continuously copied by DNA polymerase in the 5 to 3 direction. The other strand of DNA (the lagging 3 to 5 strand) must be copied in short fragments, because the direction of synthesis is the opposite of the movement of the replication fork. This occurs because DNA can only be synthesized in the 5 to 3 direction. Synthesis of DNA on the lagging strand must be repeatedly primed and extended, then the RNA primer is removed and replaced with DNA. The final step, which is performed by DNA ligase, is to join all of the DNA fragments together in a completed continuous daughter strand. (The level of detail in this question should commensurate with the level of detail discussed in class with the students.)

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