What happens during DNA elongation?

During DNA elongation, nucleotides are added to the growing DNA strand by matching them with their complementary nucleotides on the template strand. This process occurs during DNA replication, where the double helix structure of DNA unwinds, and each strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. The enzyme DNA polymerase plays a crucial role in this process, facilitating the addition of nucleotides one by one and ensuring that each new nucleotide is paired with its corresponding partner—adenine with thymine and cytosine with guanine.

Elongation is pivotal because it results in the formation of a new strand of DNA that is complementary to the original template strand, effectively doubling the amount of genetic material in preparation for cell division. Understanding this process is essential for grasping how genetic information is replicated and passed on during cell division.