DNA replication involves unwinding the double helix at the replication fork using helicase. DNA polymerase then adds complementary nucleotides to each strand according to Watson and Crick's base pairing rules, forming two identical copies of the original DNA molecule. Meselson and Stahl's experiment showed that replication is semiconservative, with each new DNA molecule containing one original and one new strand. The leading strand is synthesized continuously towards the replication fork while the lagging strand involves discontinuous Okazaki fragments joined by DNA ligase.