What is the Difference Between Lagging and Leading Strand?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The major difference between a lagging and leading strand is the direction and continuity of their replication during DNA replication. Here are the key differences between the two:
- Direction: The leading strand runs in the 5' to 3' direction, while the lagging strand runs in the 3' to 5' direction.
- Replication: The leading strand is replicated continuously, whereas the lagging strand is replicated discontinuously.
- Fragments: Short stretches called Okazaki fragments are formed during the replication of the lagging strand, while no short fragments are formed in the leading strand.
- Primer Requirements: The lagging strand needs a new primer every time a new fragment is synthesized, while the leading strand does not require new primers for continuous replication.
In summary, the leading strand is replicated continuously in the same direction as the movement of the replication fork, while the lagging strand is replicated discontinuously in the opposite direction, forming short Okazaki fragments.
Comparative Table: Lagging vs Leading Strand
The main difference between a lagging and leading strand is the direction of replication and the way they are synthesized. Here is a table comparing the two:
Feature | Lagging Strand | Leading Strand |
---|---|---|
Description | The strand that opens in the 3’ to 5’ direction towards the replication fork. | The strand that runs in the 5’ to 3’ direction in the replication fork. |
Replication | Replicated discontinuously. | Replicated continuously. |
Fragments | Short stretches called Okazaki fragments are formed during replication. | No short fragments are formed. |
Primer Requirements | Requires a new primer for each of the short Okazaki fragments. | Can be extended from one primer alone. |
The lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously because the DNA polymerase moves away from the replication fork, causing it to come off and reattach to the newly exposed strand for each Okazaki fragment. In contrast, the leading strand is synthesized continuously, as the DNA polymerase moves in the same direction as the replication fork.
- Single Strand Break vs Double Strand Break
- Sense vs Antisense Strand
- Template vs Coding Strand
- Conservative vs Semiconservative Replication
- Positive vs Negative Supercoiling of DNA
- Long vs Short Layers
- Upstream vs Downstream DNA
- Leading vs Managing a Project
- Helix-Loop-Helix vs Helix-Turn-Helix
- Main vs Lead
- DNA Ligase vs DNA Polymerase
- PCR vs DNA Replication
- PCR Primers vs Sequencing Primers
- Ligase vs Lyase
- Polymerase vs Primase
- Conservative Semiconservative vs Dispersive Replication
- Genomic vs Plasmid DNA
- Helicase vs Topoisomerase
- Weave vs Extensions