E-Text 3

DIFFERENT MODES OF REPLICATION

Conservative DNA replication:

It produces one helix made entirely of old DNA and one helix made entirely of new DNA. The
conservative method of replication suggests that parental DNA remains together and newly-
formed daughter strands are also together.

Semi conservative DNA replication:

The semi-conservative method of replication suggests that the two parental DNA strands serve
as a template for new DNA and after replication, each double stranded DNA contains one strand
from the parental DNA and one new (daughter) strand
In semi conservative DNA replication, each new DNA molecule has one old strand and one new
strand.

Dispersive replication:
A form of DNA replication in which the original DNA chain breaks and recombines in a random
fashion before the double helix structure unwinds and separates to act as a template for mRNA
synthesis. The dispersive method of replication suggests that, after replication, the two daughter
DNAs have alternating segments of both parental and newly synthesized DNA interspersed on
both strands.