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Leading and lagging DNA strands exist at a replication fork because ___________.A. the DNA polymerase can add new nucleotides onto either the 3' end or the 5' end B. the two strands of DNA are antiparallel, and DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotides onto a 5' end C. the two strands of DNA are parallel and DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotides onto a 3' D. end the two strands of DNA can be either parallel or antiparallel the two strands of DNA are antiparallel, and DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotides onto a 3' end

Sagot :

Answer:

B. the two strands of DNA are antiparallel, and DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotides onto a 5' end

Explanation:

Deoxyribonucleic acid, known as DNA, is the genetic material of a cell, which must first undergo replication i.e produce two identical copies of itself, before a cell can divide. During replication, the double stranded DNA unwinds into a replication fork consisting of two single strands of DNA.

These single strands of DNA are called leading strand (runs from 3'-5') and lagging strand (runs from 5'-3'). These single strands that runs at opposite direction from one another exists at the replication fork because the two strands of DNA are antiparallel i.e. are opposite to one another, and DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotides onto a 5' end.

Leading and lagging DNA strands exist at a replication fork because the two strands of DNA are antiparallel, and DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotides onto a 5 'end.

A replication fork is the juncture between two strands of DNA when it is replicating itself.

In each of them (speaking of the homologous strands) the opposite chain is carried out to have the double genetic information when approaching cell division.

  • The direction in which the enzymes act is unique from 5 'to 3', this determines the template chain must have the direction 3'→ 5', so that the new chain in formation, complementary and antiparallel, has the direction 5 '→ 3' coinciding with the enzyme's working system.

  • The basic reaction that takes place in replication is a polymerization reaction, in a growing DNA chain a nucleotide is incorporated whose base is complementary to that of the template chain.

  • The DNA polymerases at the two ends of the free nucleotide to be incorporated use its phosphate group or 5 'end to add it to the growing chain.

Therefore, we can conclude that leading and lagging DNA strands exist at a replication fork because the two strands of DNA are antiparallel, and DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotides onto a 5 'end.

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