What term describes the process where each new DNA double helix consists of one original strand and one new strand?

The process where each new DNA double helix consists of one original strand and one new strand is known as semi-conservative replication. This term underscores how DNA copies itself during cell division. In this process, the two strands of the original DNA molecule separate, and each serves as a template for the formation of a complementary new strand. As a result, each daughter DNA molecule retains one of the original strands, leading to two double helices, each composed of one old and one new strand. This method of replication ensures accuracy and consistency in genetic information passed from one generation to the next.

Transcription refers to the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, which is fundamentally different as it does not involve the duplication of DNA strands. Translation is the subsequent step where the RNA code is used to synthesize proteins. The replication fork is a structure that forms within the DNA during replication, representing the point where the double helix unwinds, but it does not specifically describe the semi-conservative nature of the process itself.