(a) Describe why DNA replication is said to be a semiconservative process. Explain how random mutations such as those in pathogens with a mutator phenotype may arise in the DNA of an organism.

DNA replication is semi-conservative because each helix that is created contains one strand from the helix from which it was copied. The replication of one helix results in two daughter helices each of which contains one of the original parental helical strands.

A mutation is a change that occurs in our DNA sequence, either due to mistakes when the DNA is copied or as the result of environmental factors such as UV light and cigarette smoke. ... Mutations can also occur as the result of exposure to environmental factors such as smoking, sunlight and radiation.

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Oseni Oseni · Answer 2 · 2021-09-16T14:07:29+02:00

(a) In order to understand why the replication of DNA is said to be semi conservative, there is a need to understand what really goes on during replication.

During replication, the two strands of the DNA first become separated.
Each strand then makes a complementary copy of itself.
The original double strand does not reform, instead, the old strands each forms a double strand by coupling with their newly synthesized complimentary strands.

The fact that the 2 double strands DNA that forms at the end of the replication process each consist of one old and one newly synthesized strand is why replication is said to be semi conservative. The old strands remain conserved but are now separated into new double strands.

(b) Random mutations such as those in pathogens with a mutator phenotype may arise in the DNA of an organism due to a host of factors:

mistakes during replication
mutation due to external factors such as chemicals, UV radiation, etc.

When this happens, the DNA sequence is altered and this alteration creates one or more phenotypic effects.

More on DNA replication and mutation can be found here: https://brainly.com/question/10787