What is dna replication is called semiconservative because?

DNA replication is called semi-conservative because each newly synthesized DNA molecule is composed of one original (parental) strand and one newly synthesized strand.

During replication, the two strands of the DNA molecule separate and each strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. This results in two identical DNA molecules, each containing one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.

This process was first demonstrated by scientists Meselson and Stahl in 1958 using a technique called density gradient centrifugation. They labeled the original DNA strands with a heavy isotope of nitrogen (15N) and allowed the DNA to replicate in a medium containing a lighter isotope of nitrogen (14N). By analyzing the DNA molecules after each round of replication, they were able to show that the resulting DNA molecules contained both heavy and light nitrogen, supporting the semi-conservative model of replication.

Overall, the semi-conservative nature of DNA replication ensures the accurate transmission of genetic information from one generation to the next.