Chapter 26, Problem 8E

Summary Introduction

To draw: A diagram to show how DNA synthesis that has been halted after the DNA polymerase-RNA polymerase collision can resume using RNA transcript as a primer.

Introduction: DNA is a double-stranded molecule. During its replication, two parent strands unwind and each strand acts as 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 continued towards the fork in 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.