Which of the following statements correctly describes the difference between the leading and the lagging strands of DNA during DNA replication?
A) The leading strand is synthesized in the same direction as the movement of the replication fork, and the lagging strand is synthesized in the opposite direction.
B) The 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) The lagging strand is synthesized continuously, whereas the leading strand is synthesized in short fragments that are ultimately stitched together.
D) The leading strand is synthesized at twice the rate of the lagging strand.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The leading strand is synthesized in the same direction as the movement of the replication fork, while the lagging strand is synthesized in the opposite direction. This is because DNA polymerase can read and synthesize DNA only in the 5' to 3' direction, while the replication fork moves in opposite directions for the two strands.

Which of the Following Statements Correctly Describes the Difference Between