Practice question

Both template strands are antiparallel, but replication fork moves unidirectionally. Leading strand polymerase follows helicase smoothly synthesizing continuously. Lagging strand template runs 5' to 3' toward fork, requiring polymerase to synthesize away from fork advancement. As helicase unwinds parental duplex, new single-stranded DNA exposed discontinuously behind fork. Primase synthesizes short RNA primers at intervals, Pol III extends each into Okazaki fragment that later becomes processed and joined. This semi-discontinuous mode elegantly solves antiparallel constraint without violating fundamental 5' to 3' polymerization chemistry.