Why is there a leading and lagging strand during DNA replication

The double stranded DNA is first unzipped by an enzyme called helicase. Helicase separates the two strands of DNA, and creates the replication fork. Essentialy two single stranded DNA chains are created, both facing different directions. On the leading strand, an RNA primer is created by RNA ploymerase and DNA polymerase III will continously build that strand, since it is building the DNA chain in the same direction as helicase unzips the DNA. On the lagging strand, the DNA plymerase moves the opposite direction as helicase, thus it can only copy a small length of DNA at one time. Because of the different directions the two enzymes moves on the lagging strand, the DNA chain is only synthetised in small fragments. Hence it is called the lagging strand.

MN
Answered by Mark N. Biology tutor

45508 Views

See similar Biology IB tutors

Related Biology IB answers

All answers ▸

Compare competitive and non-competitive inhibition


Describe the process of spermatogenesis leading to the production of four sperm cells in a human male.


Explain the sliding-filament theory


Explain a chemical synaptic transmission


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning