Which statement CORRECTLY describes why the DNA synthesis is discontinuous on one template strand while continuous on the other? (Select all that apply.)
A) It is due to antiparallel nature of the DNA molecule.
B) It is due to the fact that the DNA polymerase is not active enough.
C) It is due to the nature of the DNA polymerase which can only add new nucleotide at the 3ʹ end.
D) It is due to difficulty in unwinding the DNA template for replication.
E) It is due to the semiconservative nature of DNA replication.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

DNA synthesis is discontinuous on the lagging strand due to the antiparallel nature of DNA and the fact that DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to the 3' end, necessitating Okazaki fragments.

Which Statement CORRECTLY Describes Why the DNA Synthesis Is Discontinuous