<P> DNA is always synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction . Since the leading and lagging strand templates are oriented in opposite directions at the replication fork, a major issue is how to achieve synthesis of nascent (new) lagging strand DNA, whose direction of synthesis is opposite to the direction of the growing replication fork . </P> <P> The leading strand is the strand of nascent DNA which is being synthesized in the same direction as the growing replication fork . A polymerase "reads" the leading strand template and adds complementary nucleotides to the nascent leading strand on a continuous basis . </P> <P> The lagging strand is the strand of nascent DNA whose direction of synthesis is opposite to the direction of the growing replication fork . Because of its orientation, replication of the lagging strand is more complicated as compared to that of the leading strand . As a consequence, the DNA polymerase on this strand is seen to "lag behind" the other strand . </P> <P> The lagging strand is synthesized in short, separated segments . On the lagging strand template, a primase "reads" the template DNA and initiates synthesis of a short complementary RNA primer . A DNA polymerase extends the primed segments, forming Okazaki fragments . The RNA primers are then removed and replaced with DNA, and the fragments of DNA are joined together by DNA ligase . </P>

What is the lagging strand in dna replication
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