Question

Select the option that correctly describes the synthesis of the leading strand, and the synthesis of the lagging strand during dna replication.

Answer 1

During DNA replication, the leading strand is synthesized continuously in the direction of the replication fork, while the lagging strand is synthesized in short segments called Okazaki fragments away from the replication fork.

Step-by-step explanation:

DNA replication is a critical biological process in which the DNA molecule is copied before a cell divides. Synthesis of the leading strand and the lagging strand involves different mechanisms due to the antiparallel nature of the two strands of the DNA helix. DNA polymerase can add nucleotides only in the 5' to 3' direction, which means it reads the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction. The leading strand is synthesized continuously in the direction of the replication fork using a single primer. In contrast, the lagging strand is synthesized away from the replication fork in short segments known as Okazaki fragments, each requiring a new RNA primer.

During replication, the leading strand can be synthesized by DNA polymerase in one continuous piece as it follows the replication fork. However, the lagging strand must be synthesized in a series of segments. The Okazaki fragments are later joined together by the action of DNA ligase to form a continuous strand.