Question

Continuous synthesis occurs on the _______ orientated parent strand and is further referred to as the ______ strand.

A) 3'-to-5' ; leading
B) 5'-to-3'; leading
C) 3' -to-5' ; lagging
D) 5' -to- 3' ; lagging

Answer 1

The lagging strand in DNA replication is synthesized in the 3'-to-5' direction, while the leading strand is synthesized in the opposite direction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is C) 3' -to-5' ; lagging. During DNA replication, synthesis occurs on the 3' to 5' orientated parent strand. This strand is known as the lagging strand because replication occurs in short stretches of DNA called Okazaki fragments, which are synthesized away from the replication fork. The other strand, the 5' to 3' orientated parent strand, is synthesized continuously towards the replication fork and is referred to as the leading strand.