Question

In which direction is the lagging strand synthesised relative to the replication fork movement?

Options

• Away from the replication fork in the 3′→5′ direction

• Toward the replication fork in the 5′→3′ direction

• Away from the replication fork in the 5′→3′ direction

• Toward the replication fork in the 3′→5′ direction

Answer 1

The lagging strand is synthesised discontinuously in the 5′→3′ direction away from the replication fork. Because its template strand reads 5′→3′, synthesis proceeds in the opposite direction to fork movement, necessitating the formation of short Okazaki fragments, each initiated by a separate RNA primer.