While conducting experiments with E. coli, Meselson and Stahl established that during DNA replication, each of the two strands that compose the double helix were used as a template for the new strands of DNA. The scientists described the replication method as semi-conservative. Explain what this means in terms of DNA replication.

A) The two original DNA strands, the parental strands, woulde-be used as templates to synthesize new strands.
B) After base pairing, both copies of the new DNA molecules would be a mix of alternating segments of old and new DNA.
C) Base pairing would result in two double-stranded DNA molecules that would include one parental or old strand and one daughter or new strand.
D) The two newly-synthesized strands, the daughter strands, would basepair with each other; one to form one all-old strand and one all-new strand.