The duplication of DNA as part of the reproductive cycle of a cell or virus. During replication the two DNA strands in the double helix separate, and each strand then acts as a template specifying the base sequence of newly synthesized complementary strands.
Source:
PAC, 1992, 64, 143. 'Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992)' on page 164 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199264010143)