Final answer:
In step 2 of DNA replication, enzymes synthesize new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the parental template strands. The leading strand is made continuously, while the lagging strand is created in fragments and later joined.
Step-by-step explanation:
In step 2 of DNA replication, an enzyme adds new bases to the complementary parental strands. One new strand, known as the leading strand, is synthesized continuously towards the replication fork. In contrast, the other new strand, called the lagging strand, is synthesized discontinuously in the form of Okazaki fragments. These fragments are later joined together to form a continuous strand. The enzyme responsible for the addition of new nucleotides is called DNA polymerase. It reads the exposed bases on the parental strands and adds the complementary nucleotides to synthesize the new strands, ensuring that the two daughter DNA molecules formed are identical to the original DNA molecule.