During DNA replication one of the strand is synthesized continuously and other discontinuously. Name these two strands and mention two features of each strand.
(Oct. 2021)
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Respectively the leading strand and the lagging strandExplanation:
  • DNA replication shows the unique process of making an ideal copy of double-stranded DNA, using the existing DNA as a template for the synthesis of new DNA strands. It is energetically highly expensive that requires a set of enzymes, mainly DNA-dependent DNA polymerase.
  • This DNA polymerase can add nucleotides only in one direction i.e.  5'→ 3'.
  • Consequently, on one strand of the template with polarity 5'→ 3', replication is uninterrupted and thus is continuously rapid. Hence this strand is called- the leading strand.
Leading strand features:

1. Growth is continuous & rapid and towards the replication fork
2. Requires only a single RNA primer and forms at a high speed
3. Requires no DNA ligase enzyme
  • On the other strand i.e. template with polarity 3'→ 5', replication gets interrupted and thus is discontinuous. Hence this strand is called- the lagging strand. Due to discontinuous growth, it results in small fragments known as Okazaki fragments, which are later joined by the enzyme DNA ligase.
Lagging strand features:

1. Discontinuous growth and away from the replication fork
2. Requires new RNA primer and slow & delayed growth
3. Needs a DNA ligase to join the Okazaki fragments

Hence the names of these two strands are leading strands and lagging strands respectively.
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