Question

Which of the following characters is not associated with a leading strand?
A. Its replication proceeds away from the fork.
B. Its replication takes place in a continuous manner.
C. Its replication takes place in a 3’-5’ direction of the template strand.
D. All of these

Answer 1

Hint: The region of DNA known as the replication fork is where the replication process itself is now taking place. It has a shape that is similar to a fork. The replication process is carried out by a multiprotein complex that is located at the replication fork.

Complete step by step solution:
After being unzipped by the ligase enzyme, the DNA double helix assumes the shape of a replicating fork. This results in the development of the leading and lagging strands. A cell's DNA double helix is unraveled and separated in the replication fork region so that DNA polymerases and other relevant enzymes can use each strand as a template to synthesize a new double helix.
A single DNA strand known as the leading strand is reproduced in the 3' to 5' direction during DNA replication (same direction as the replication fork). One complementary base at a time, DNA is continuously added to the leading strand. The strand of developing DNA that is produced in the same direction as the expanding replication fork is known as the leading strand. Leading strand synthesis happens continuously.
On the other hand, the lagging strand is the new DNA strand whose motion runs counter to that of the expanding replication fork.
One DNA strand, known as the leading strand, is continuously reproduced within each fork in the same direction as the fork's motion, while the other (lagging) strand is replicated in the form of brief Okazaki fragments in the opposite direction. A single DNA strand known as the lagging strand is reproduced in the 5′ - 3′ direction during DNA replication (opposite direction to the replication fork). The lagging strand receives intermittent additions of DNA known as "okazaki fragments."

So, option (A) is correct.

Note:
During DNA replication, a structure called the replication fork develops inside the long helical DNA. Helicases, which dismantle the hydrogen bonds binding the two DNA strands together in the helix, are responsible for producing it.