The lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously at thereplication fork because A. The lagging strand template is discontinuous B. DNA polymerase always falls off the template DNA every tennucleotides or so C. DNA polymerase can polymerize nucleotides only in the 5' to3' direction D. DNA polymerase removes the last few nucleotides synthesizedwhenever it stops E. None of the above The lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously at thereplication fork because A. The lagging strand template is discontinuous B. DNA polymerase always falls off the template DNA every tennucleotides or so C. DNA polymerase can polymerize nucleotides only in the 5' to3' direction D. DNA polymerase removes the last few nucleotides synthesizedwhenever it stops E. None of the above
Explanation / Answer
C. DNA polymerase canpolymerize nucleotides only in the 5' to 3' direction Theparental strand which is in 5' to 3' direction is known as lagginstrand. This isbecause, all known DNA polymerases can synthesize DNA only in 5' to3' direction and for this to happen the parentalstrand has to be in 3' to 5' direction. But asthe direction of this parental strand is in 5' to 3' direction itis synthesized with the help of fragments called okazakifragemnts. Hence,the complete strand is synthesized in the form of fragments ordiscontinuously which is finally joined by ligase to givea complete meaning. Hope youare satisfied with the answer.