Final answer:
Continuous synthesis of DNA during replication occurs on the 3' to 5' parent strand, known as the leading strand, which is synthesized in the same direction as the replication fork moves.
Step-by-step explanation:
Continuous synthesis occurs on the 3' to 5' orientated parent strand and is further referred to as the leading strand. During DNA replication, enzymes known as DNA polymerases are responsible for the formation of a new strand of DNA by adding nucleotides one by one. The DNA polymerase enzyme can only add nucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction, which corresponds to the new strand. As a result, the new strand that is synthesized in the same direction as the replication fork movement is synthesized continuously and is referred to as the leading strand.
On the other strand, known as the lagging strand, synthesis is not continuous. This strand is oriented in the 5' to 3' direction, opposite the direction of the replication fork, and is synthesized in short segments known as Okazaki fragments. Each fragment begins with a short RNA primer, and the fragments are eventually joined together by the enzyme DNA ligase to form a continuous strand.