What feature of double-stranded DNA makes it necessary to have a leading strand and a lagging strand during replication?
A)the hydrogen bonding between bases
B)the base stacking of the bases
C)the negative charge on the sugar-phosphate backbone
D)the antiparallel orientation of the strands

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The antiparallel orientation of the strands, with one strand running 5’ to 3’ and the other running 3’ to 5’, means that the DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides in a certain direction. This necessitates the leading and lagging strands during replication, as one strand can be replicated continuously in the 5’ to 3’ direction (leading strand), whereas the other strand must be replicated in smaller fragments (Okazaki fragments) in the opposite direction (lagging strand) and then joined together.

What Feature of Double-Stranded DNA Makes It Necessary to Have