Describe the continuous & discontinuous Synthesis of DNA?
Synthesis of a new strand of DNA takes place to lay the addition of fresh nucleotides to the 3 – OH group of the last nucleotide of the primer. This synthesis takes place in 5 direction enzymes that catalyze this DNA – polymerase synthesis of a strand called leading strands is continuous. The replication of the second strand of the DNA molecule is discontinuous on a strand called a lagging strand. Primase initiates primer synthesis on the strand near the fork. The RNA – primer thus formed provides free for replication of single-stranded regions on the lagging strand; the new complementary strand is formed in small fragments of DNA called Okazaki fragments. It is called discontinuous because it has to be initiated several times & every time an Okazaki fragment is produced.
