which best describes the outcome of dna replication?

The outcome of DNA replication is the synthesis of two identical copies of the original DNA molecule. DNA replication is an essential process that occurs in all living organisms and is required for the faithful transmission of genetic information from one generation to the next.

During replication, the double helix structure of the DNA molecule is unwound and separated into two strands. Each strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand, resulting in the production of two identical copies of the original DNA molecule. The new strands are synthesized by the enzyme polymerase, which adds deoxyribonucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) to the template strands in a specific order determined by the base pairing rules (A with T, and C with G).

The process of DNA replication is highly accurate, with a low error rate of about one mistake per 10 billion base pairs. However, mistakes can occur, and these may result in changes or mutations in the genetic material. Some mutations have no effect on the organism, while others may have a negative or positive effect. In some cases, mutations may even be beneficial, allowing an organism to adapt to new environmental conditions or providing it with a selective advantage.