AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -New DNA is made by enzymes called DNA polymerases, which require a template and a primer (starter) and synthesize DNA in the 5’ to 3’ direction. During DNA replication, one new strand (the leading strand) is made as a continuous piece. The other (the lagging strand) is made in small pieces.

Detailed explanation-2: -DNA is always synthesized in the 5’-to-3’ direction, meaning that nucleotides are added only to the 3’ end of the growing strand.

Detailed explanation-3: -The need for accuracy probably explains why DNA replication occurs only in the 5′-to-3′ direction. If there were a DNA polymerase that added deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates in the 3′-to-5′ direction, the growing 5′-chain end, rather than the incoming mononucleotide, would carry the activating triphosphate.

Detailed explanation-4: -Leading and lagging strands DNA is made differently on the two strands at a replication fork. One new strand, the leading strand, runs 5’ to 3’ towards the fork and is made continuously. The other, the lagging strand, runs 5’ to 3’ away from the fork and is made in small pieces called Okazaki fragments.

Detailed explanation-5: -RNA polymerase synthesizes an RNA strand complementary to a template DNA strand. It synthesizes the RNA strand in the 5’ to 3’ direction, while reading the template DNA strand in the 3’ to 5’ direction. The template DNA strand and RNA strand are antiparallel.