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DNA replication is an essential step in cell growth. Cell growth is what drives the growth of an organism.

Every time a cell divides, the DNA in the cell has to be be replicated (an extra copy has to made to go into the newly formed cell)

Therefore, DNA must be able to self replicate so that cells can divide and organism can grow and develop.

DNA replication is also essential when extra cells are required in a adult organism. When there is a wound or injury that results in a loss of cells, more cell have to be grown by the body in order to replace the lost cells. In such a case, cells have to divide and there has to be a copy of the DNA for each new cell

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14y ago
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11y ago

In a word: complementarity.

The DNA molecule consists of two antiparellel strands of nucleotides linked by pairing between the nitrogenous bases A, C, G, and T. Where there is an A in one strand, there must be a T in the other strand, where there is a C in one strand there must be a G. And so on. Because of this property of complementarity (as in each strand complements the others) a single DNA strand can be used to generate the other.

When DNA is replicated the two strands are broken apart and two new strands are synthesized, complementary to the two old strands. DNA can be replicated because the two halves of an old molecule can be used as templates to generate two new halves to create two new molecules.

Picky Aside:

It is not accurate to say DNA replicates itself. DNA is replicated by a massive array of protein co-factors and enzymes. DNA is a replicable molecule, not a replicating molecule.

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11y ago

DNA must replicate itself before mitotic cell division so that the two new daughter cells have the same amount of DNA, and identical DNA.

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Q: Why is it important for DNA molecule to replicate itself?
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