AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -“the lagging strand polymerase synthesizes DNA faster than the leading strand polymerase.”

Detailed explanation-2: -Further, the lagging strand polymerase is faster than leading strand synthesis, indicating that replisome rate is limited by the helicase.

Detailed explanation-3: -During DNA replication, leading strand synthesis occurs faster than lagging strand synthesis due to the fact that Okazaki fragment synthesis is more involved (i.e. uses many RNA primers and requires constant reloading of DNA Pol onto the DNA); however, the cells makes up for the difference at the end.

Detailed explanation-4: -The major difference between a lagging and leading strand is that the lagging strand replicates discontinuously forming short fragments, whereas the leading strand replicates continuously.

Detailed explanation-5: -Within each fork, one DNA strand, called the leading strand, is replicated continuously in the same direction as the moving fork, while the other (lagging) strand is replicated in the opposite direction in the form of short Okazaki fragments.