Why do you see two different types of replicating strands in the given DNA replication fork?

CBSE Class 12 CBSE Class 12 Biology
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Why do you see two different types of replicating strands in the given DNA replication fork? Explain.Name these strands.

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  1. In long DNA molecules, since the two strands of DNA cannot be separated in its entire length, the replication occur within a small opening to the DNA helix, referred to as a replication fork.
  2. The DNA-dependent DNA polymerases catalyses polymerization of the nucleotides only in 5’----> 3’ direction.

    Consequently, on one of the template strands the synthesis of DNA is continuous, while on the other template strand the synthesis of DNA is discontinuous, i.e., short stretches of DNA are synthesized.
  3. The discontinuously synthesized strands are later joined together by the enzyme DNA ligase.