The leading and the lagging strands differ in that the:
A)leading strand is synthesized toward the replication fork and the lagging strand is synthesized in the opposite direction.
B)leading strand is synthesized by adding nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing strand, and the lagging strand is synthesized by adding nucleotides to the 5' end.
C)lagging strand is synthesized continuously, whereas the leading strand is synthesized in short fragments that are ultimately attached to each other.
D)leading strand is synthesized at twice the rate of the lagging strand.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The leading strand is synthesized in the direction of the replication fork, while the lagging strand is synthesized in the opposite direction. This is because DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to the 3' end of a growing strand, and the replication fork opens in one direction. As a result, the leading strand can be synthesized continuously, while the lagging strand is synthesized in short fragments (Okazaki fragments) that are later joined together.

The Leading and the Lagging Strands Differ in That The