DNA replication takes place in different cellular locations depending on the type of organism:
- In eukaryotic cells (such as human, plant, and animal cells), DNA replication occurs in the nucleus , where the cell's DNA is stored
- Additionally, in humans and other eukaryotes, DNA replication also occurs in the mitochondrial matrix , where mitochondrial DNA is replicated
- In prokaryotic cells (which lack a nucleus), DNA replication occurs in the nucleoid region of the cytoplasm, where the circular DNA molecule is located
In all cases, DNA replication happens during the S phase of the cell cycle, ensuring that each daughter cell receives an identical copy of the DNA
