What is the mechanism through which cells replicate their genetic material?

Cells replicate their genetic material through the process known as replication. During replication, the DNA molecule unwinds and separates into two strands, allowing each strand to serve as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. This process ensures that each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the parent cell's genetic material during cell division.

Key enzymes, such as DNA helicase and DNA polymerase, play critical roles in this mechanism. DNA helicase unwinds the double helix structure of the DNA, while DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing daughter strands, following base-pairing rules, ensuring that adenine pairs with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine.

In contrast to replication, transcription is the process by which messenger RNA (mRNA) is synthesized from a DNA template, serving a different purpose in gene expression. Translation involves the synthesis of proteins based on the sequence of the mRNA, and mutation refers to any change in the DNA sequence that can lead to genetic diversity or errors. Therefore, replication is the specific mechanism that directly relates to the duplication of genetic material within cells.