What Are the Advantages of DNA Replication?
– Semiconservative: means you get mostly faithful replication, so that mutations (insertions, deletions, substitutions of bases) are avoided. So, all the cells in a single organism should be identical in terms of genetics. That helps prevent autoimmune attacks. – Effective proofreading mechanisms: even if the incorrect base is initially incorporate, the DNA polymerase has a conformation such that any mismatched pair won’t easily pass through it. That makes the newly-formed double helix back up and be re-processed so that the correct base is inserted. – Allows for some mutation, which is the ultimate source of variation: the proofreading mechanisms aren’t 100% accurate, so some bases can change. Most of the time, these mutations are either deleterious or neutral (no impact). However, every once in a while, a mutation can lead to a new phenotype, which then can be acted upon my natural selection.
