DNA replication requires the presence of a DNA template. During the process of replication, the existing DNA strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. This ensures that the genetic information is accurately copied and passed on during cell division.
While pyrophosphate is involved in the energy process of joining nucleotides together, it is not the primary requirement for the process of replication itself. Amino acids and messenger RNA (mRNA), on the other hand, play roles in protein synthesis and gene expression rather than in the replication of DNA. Therefore, the correct answer is that DNA replication fundamentally requires a DNA template.