Question

The O helices form the fingers. The O helix rotates 60 deg. towards the palm to recruit the incoming dNTP and form one wall of the catalytic site.

The thumb also rotates towards the palm by 8 deg. (These changes are cyclical.)

*the template strand is ____

Answer 1

The template strand in DNA replication serves as a guide for creating a complementary strand, with the leading strand synthesized continuously and the lagging strand in fragments known as Okazaki fragments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The template strand is the segment of DNA that serves as a guide for the synthesis of a complementary DNA strand during DNA replication. In the replication process, DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction. Given that DNA strands are antiparallel, with one strand oriented 5' to 3' and the other 3' to 5', the leading strand is the one synthesized continuously, while the lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously, resulting in Okazaki fragments.

Leading and Lagging Strands

The leading strand is synthesized in a continuous manner towards the replication fork, complementing the parental 3' to 5' DNA strand. Conversely, the lagging strand, which complements the 5' to 3' parental DNA strand, is synthesized in fragments. Topoisomerase prevents over-winding of the DNA ahead of the replication fork by inducing and resealing nicks in the DNA double helix.