DNA polymerase assembles new strands
A) in a 5' to 3' direction only.
B) in a 5' to 3' direction building one strand and a 3' to 5' direction building the other stand.
C) in a 5' to 3' direction building the first half of a strand and a 3' to 5' direction building the second half of a strand.
D) in a 3' to 5' direction building the first half of a strand and a 5' to 3' direction building the second half of a strand.
E) in a 3' to 5' direction on the "old" 3' to 5' strand.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to the 3' end of a growing strand, and thus can only assemble new strands in a 5' to 3' direction.

DNA Polymerase Assembles New Strands