Stuck on this question for my bio homework =(
2007-01-09 14:36:59 · 2 answers · asked by Jeff 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Okazaki discovered that DNA replication was non-continuous on one of the DNA strands due to polarity of the strands (antiparallel, ie one is 5'-3' while other is 3'-5') and polarity of DNA polymerase (5'-3'), the enzyme that does the replicating. See http://www.answers.com/topic/okazaki-fragment for more detail.
2007-01-09 15:01:57 · answer #1 · answered by teachbio 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply: because helicase unwinds DNA in a particular direction. The leading strand is being synthesized in the same direction that helicase is unwinding DNA, therefore it can move continuously. The lagging strand is being synthesized in the opposite direction of the unwinding DNA and therefore can only do so in fragments until more of the DNA is unwound and available for an RNA primer to be put on and then for DNA Pol to bind and synthesize another fragment.
2016-05-23 01:44:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋