The characteristic of DNA that allows it to make an exact copy of itself is its
A) sugar-phosphate backbone.
B) complementary base pairing.
C) phosphodiester bonding of the helices.
D) twisting of the molecule to form an $\alpha$ helix.
E) antiparallel strands.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Complementary base pairing is the characteristic of DNA that allows it to make an exact copy of itself. During DNA replication, each strand of the double helix serves as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. The base pairs (A-T and C-G) ensure that the new strand is an exact copy of the original strand.

The Characteristic of DNA That Allows It to Make an Exact