What is the name of the process by which DNA is copied?

The process by which DNA is copied is called DNA replication. It produces two DNA molecules from one original molecule so genetic information can pass to new cells.

Replication begins when enzymes unwind and separate the two strands of the DNA double helix. Each exposed strand acts as a template. DNA polymerase then adds complementary nucleotides according to the pairing rules: adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.

The result is described as semiconservative replication because each daughter DNA molecule contains one original strand and one newly made strand. This arrangement preserves sequence information while allowing the cell to duplicate its genome efficiently before division.

Replication is distinct from transcription and translation. Transcription copies information from DNA into RNA, while translation uses messenger RNA to assemble a protein. Mutation is not the copying process; it is a change in DNA sequence that can sometimes arise from replication errors or other damage. DNA replication is carefully checked by proofreading and repair systems, although occasional errors remain the source of genetic variation.