The leading and lagging strands at a replication fork are synthesized in opposite directions, but both are synthesized in a continuous manner.

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The leading strand is synthesized continuously in the 5' to 3' direction, while the lagging strand is synthesized in short, discontinuous segments called Okazaki fragments. The fragments are later joined together by DNA ligase to form a continuous strand.

The Leading and Lagging Strands at a Replication Fork Are