Which of the following is NOT a stage of DNA replication?

DNA replication involves several well-defined stages that are necessary for accurately copying the genetic material. The stages of DNA replication are typically categorized as initiation, elongation, and termination.

During the initiation phase, specific proteins recognize and bind to the origin of replication, unwinding the DNA helix to expose the template strands. This prepares the DNA for copying. The elongation phase follows, where DNA polymerase synthesizes a new strand of DNA by adding nucleotides complementary to the template strand. Finally, termination occurs when the replication process is completed, and the newly synthesized strands are separated from the original strands.

Translation, on the other hand, is the process through which the information in mRNA is used to build proteins. It involves the assembly of amino acids into polypeptide chains, making it unrelated to the replication of DNA. Therefore, identifying translation as the option that does not belong to the stages of DNA replication is correct.