What role do free DNA nucleotides play during DNA replication?

During DNA replication, free DNA nucleotides are crucial as they bind to complementary bases on the template strands. This process occurs in the S phase of the cell cycle and is facilitated by the enzyme DNA polymerase, which synthesizes the new DNA strand by directing the addition of these nucleotides to the growing complementary strand. Each free nucleotide has a base that will form hydrogen bonds with the corresponding base on the template strand—adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine. This complementary base pairing ensures that the genetic information is accurately copied and preserved, allowing for the faithful transmission of genetic material to daughter cells during cell division.

In this context, while the other options describe activities that are not related to the role of free nucleotides in DNA replication, they do not capture the essential function of forming base pairs that allow synthesis of the new strand. The binding of free nucleotides to the template strands is a fundamental step in the elongation phase of DNA replication, making it the correct response to the question.