Which of the following statements is true of the two daughter strands of DNA?
A) They are both synthesized continuously.
B) They are both synthesized discontinuously.
C) The lagging strand is synthesized continuously, but the leading strand is synthesized discontinuously.
D) The leading strand is synthesized continuously, but the lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The leading strand is synthesized in a continuous manner, as the replication fork opens up and exposes the template strand, allowing for continuous synthesis by the DNA polymerase. The lagging strand is synthesized in a discontinuous manner, as the replication fork opens up away from the direction of polymerization, leading to the formation of Okazaki fragments that are later stitched together by DNA ligase.

Which of the Following Statements Is True of the Two