semikonservatívna

Semikonservatívna, meaning semi-conservative, refers to a mode of replication or inheritance where each new molecule or unit is composed of one original and one newly synthesized component. This principle is most famously applied to DNA replication. In DNA, the double helix unwinds, and each strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. Consequently, each new DNA molecule consists of one strand from the original parent molecule and one newly created strand. This mechanism ensures that genetic information is accurately passed down from one generation to the next. The term semikonservatívna highlights the partial conservation of the original material in the replicated product. This contrasts with conservative replication, where the original molecule remains intact and a completely new copy is synthesized, or dispersive replication, where both original and new material are mixed in each resulting molecule. The semikonservatívna nature of DNA replication was experimentally demonstrated by Meselson and Stahl. The concept also extends to other biological processes where genetic material or structural components are duplicated.