Lagging strand

Definition

The lagging strand is one of the two strands of DNA at the replication fork that is synthesized discontinuously in short segments known as Okazaki fragments, opposite to the direction of the replication fork. This process occurs because DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides in a 5' to 3' direction, necessitating a more complex synthesis for the lagging strand.

Related terms

Leading Strand:

The leading strand is synthesized continuously in the direction of the replication fork during DNA replication.

Okazaki Fragments:

Short sequences of DNA nucleotides which are synthesized discontinuously and later linked together to form the lagging strand during DNA replication.

DNA Polymerase:

An enzyme that catalyzes the addition of nucleotide substrates to a DNA strand during replication, working in a 5’ to 3’ direction