What process is responsible for the replication of DNA?

• A. Transcription
• B. Translation
• C. Replication
• D. Mutation

Answer: (C)

The process responsible for the replication of DNA is known as replication. During DNA replication, the double helix structure of DNA unwinds, and each strand serves as a template for the formation of a new complementary strand. The enzyme DNA polymerase plays a crucial role in this process, adding nucleotides to the growing strand in accordance with the base pairing rules (adenine with thymine, and cytosine with guanine). This ensures that the genetic information is accurately copied and passed on during cell division.

Transcription refers to the process where DNA is converted into RNA, which is a different function entirely and does not involve the replication of DNA. Translation, on the other hand, is the process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA, which is again separate from the replication mechanism. Mutation involves changes to the DNA sequence that can occur during replication or due to environmental factors, but it is not a process of replication itself. Therefore, replication is the accurate term for the mechanism by which DNA is duplicated.