Final answer:
DNA polymerases are the enzymes responsible for synthesizing new strands of DNA during replication. They work by adding nucleotides in a 5' to 3' direction, following a primer set by primase, on both the leading and lagging strands.
Step-by-step explanation:
The direct answer to which component builds new strands of DNA is c. DNA polymerases. They read the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction and add nucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction. The leading strand is synthesized continuously in the direction of the replication fork, while the lagging strand is synthesized in short fragments known as Okazaki fragments.
DNA polymerases are essential enzymes in the process of DNA replication. They synthesize new strands of DNA by adding nucleotides to a pre-existing chain. DNA replication occurs at the replication fork, and DNA polymerases can only add nucleotides in a 5' to 3' direction. A primer created by primase is necessary for these enzymes to begin DNA synthesis on both the leading and lagging strands. On the leading strand, DNA synthesis is continuous, while on the lagging strand, the synthesis is discontinuous, happening in short sections called Okazaki fragments. Other key players in DNA replication include helicase, which unwinds the double-helix, and ligase, which joins Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand.