What describes the process of DNA replication?

The correct answer describes DNA replication as the process of copying a DNA molecule to produce two identical DNA strands. This process is crucial for cell division and the transmission of genetic information from one generation to the next. During DNA replication, the double helix unwinds, and each of the two original strands serves as a template for the synthesis of new complementary strands. This involves several key enzymes, including helicase, which unwinds the DNA, and DNA polymerase, which adds nucleotides to form the new strands.

The significance of this process lies in its ability to ensure that when a cell divides, each new cell receives an identical copy of the DNA. This precise duplication is essential for maintaining genetic stability across generations of cells. The accurate copying mechanism is also vital in the context of development and the maintenance of genetic information throughout the life cycle of an organism.

In contrast, other options refer to different biological processes: synthesizing RNA from DNA is transcription, translating mRNA into a protein is translation, and repairing damaged DNA involves various repair mechanisms but is not related to the replication of DNA itself. Each of these processes is essential to the overall functioning of cells but does not pertain to the direct copying of DNA.