You're trying to have it both ways here. If you're talking about replicating DNA, then the thing that does the replication is the cellular machinery, not the DNA. On the other hand, if you're talking about replicating the cell, then the turning off/on of genes is part of the replication process, and can't be separated from it. To replicate a cell, you need to do a lot more than copy the DNA code.
A cell is self replicating, and control of gene expression is part of that process. A piece of DNA is not self-replicating.
And I'm missing totally what this has to do with evolution.
A cell is self replicating, and control of gene expression is part of that process. A piece of DNA is not self-replicating."
Indeed! Now you are making some progress!
And while a piece of DNA is not necessarily self-replicating, the entire DNA system (aka cellular system) IS self-replicating, among other things.
You shouldn't be missing that point, we seem to keep going right back to it each time as new people jump into this thread.
The point is that DNA contains mathematical instructions/commands as well as data. Moreover, the DNA system (aka cellular system) actively processes these commands and data rather than merely copies or expresses such commands.
This relates back to the origin of species BECAUSE it brings us to a fundamental question:
Did the mathematical Base 2/Base 4 instructions sequence themselves naturally (i.e without any sort of intelligent aid whatsovever), or were they programmed into DNA via some form of Intelligent Intervention?
Clearly one answer would favor Evolution, whereas the other solution would favor some variant of Creationism. That's the very essence of this debate.