Chapter 16.2, Problem 4CC

Summary Introduction

To determine: How the synthesis of the leading strand be affected if DNA pol I was non-functional and also point out the location of function of DNA pol I in the given figure.

Concept introduction:

DNA is a double-stranded molecule. During its replication, the two parent strands unwind, and each strand acts a template for the synthesis of a new strand. DNA polymerase enzyme adds nucleotides in the 5′-3′ direction. In one strand, the synthesis is continuous toward the fork in the 5′-3′ direction and is known as the leading strand. In the other strand (3′-5′ direction), the synthesis is discontinuous and proceeds through short segments called Okazaki fragments. It is known as the lagging strand.