lagging strand

lagging strand

In DNA replication, the single strand forming a duplex in the direction away from the fork in the parental DNA. Replication on the lagging strand is discontinuous and can occur briefly in both directions.

lagging strand

the strand in DNA replication that is synthesized discontinuously, to generate Okazaki fragments (named after R. Okazaki who first detected them). These are later sealed by DNA LIGASE. See DNA, SEMICONSERVATIVE REPLICATION MODEL.

strand

a term commonly used to describe one of the two complementary polynucleotide chains found in double-stranded DNA.

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lagging strand

in DNA replication, the strand in which the nascent strand is synthesized in discontinuous segments after the other or leading strand. See also okazaki fragments.

leading strand

in DNA replication, the strand that is copied continuously.