Final answer:
DNA polymerase reads the template strand in one direction and synthesizes the new strand in the opposite direction. This allows for replication to occur efficiently on both strands of the DNA molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA polymerase reads the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction and adds nucleotides only in the 5' to 3' direction. The leading strand is synthesized in the direction towards the replication fork.
Replication on the lagging strand occurs in the direction away from the replication fork in short stretches of DNA called Okazaki fragments.