Final answer:
In DNA replication, a complementary antiparallel strand is synthesized from the 5' to the 3' end of the template strand. The leading strand is synthesized continuously towards the replication fork, while the lagging strand is synthesized away from the replication fork in short stretches of DNA called Okazaki fragments. This process occurs because DNA polymerase reads the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction and adds nucleotides only in the 5' to 3' direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
In DNA replication, a complementary antiparallel strand is synthesized from the 5' to the 3' end of the template strand.
The leading strand is synthesized continuously towards the replication fork in the direction of the replication fork, while the lagging strand is synthesized away from the replication fork in short stretches of DNA called Okazaki fragments.
This process occurs because DNA polymerase reads the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction and adds nucleotides only in the 5' to 3' direction.
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