What is the reason for the discontinuous synthesis of DNA on one of the parental strands?
Answers
DNA synthesis occurs in 5’-3’ direction. The DNA strands act as templates. One of the strands is synthesized in the 3’-5’ direction. The other strand is synthesized in the opposite direction producing small stretches of DNA known as Okazaki fragments. That is why DNA synthesis is discontinuous.
Answer:
Synthesis of DNA always takes place in 5' 3'direction. In a double stranded DNA both strands are anti parallel and complementary. During DNA synthesis as both strands act as templates, only one strand, i.e., 3' 5' can synthesis complementary strand in 5' 3'direction. The other strand, i.e., 5'' 3' has to be synthesized in small stretches in opposite direction as replication fork moves to right. That is why DNA synthesis is discontinuous on one of the parental strands of DNA.