Final answer:
The synthesis of the leading strand proceeds in a 5′-to-3′ direction towards the replication fork. The lagging strand is also synthesized in a 5′-to-3′ direction but in the form of Okazaki fragments that are produced away from the fork. DNA polymerase, primase, and DNA ligase are key enzymes in the process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement provided contains an inaccuracy regarding the synthesis of DNA strands. In DNA replication, synthesis of the leading strand indeed proceeds in the direction of the replication fork, but it moves in a 5′-to-3′ direction, not 3′-to-5′ as initially mentioned. In contrast, the lagging strand is synthesized in short sections known as Okazaki fragments, also in 5′-to-3′ direction, but it does so discontinuously and in the direction away from the replication fork.
This process involves several key enzymes including DNA polymerase, which can only add nucleotides to the free 3' end of a growing DNA strand, hence necessitating DNA synthesis to proceed in a 5' to 3' direction. For the lagging strand, each Okazaki fragment begins with an RNA primer, synthesized by an enzyme called primase, and these primers are later replaced by DNA nucleotides. The gaps between DNA fragments are sealed by the enzyme DNA ligase, forming a continuous DNA strand.
Thus, both strands are synthesized at the same time, but the methodology differs due to the antiparallel nature of DNA strands and the directionality constraint of DNA polymerase.