Question

question 6
5 parts -- of 1 point
why is the new dna strand complementary to the 3 to 5 strands assembled in short
segments?
only short dna sequences can extend off the rna primers
the replication forks block the formation of longer strands
dna polymerase can assemble dna only in the 3 to 5 direction
dna polymerase can assemble dna only in the 5 to 3 direction
it is more efficient than assembling complete new strands

Explanation:

DNA polymerase is an enzyme that synthesizes DNA molecules from deoxyribonucleotides. It can only add nucleotides to the 3' end of a growing DNA strand, meaning it assembles DNA in the 5' to 3' direction. When synthesizing the lagging strand (which is complementary to the 3' to 5' template strand), it has to work in the opposite direction of the replication fork movement. This results in the synthesis of short DNA segments (Okazaki fragments) because the enzyme has to repeatedly start and stop as the replication fork progresses. Each Okazaki fragment is initiated with an RNA primer, and DNA polymerase extends off these primers in the 5' to 3' direction. Once the fragments are synthesized, they are later joined together by DNA ligase.

Answer:

only short DNA sequences can extend off the RNA primers