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DNA
Structure and Replication
Concept 5: Replicating Antiparallel
DNA Strands
The two DNA strands are
antiparallel, yet DNA polymerase can only synthesize new DNA in the
5' to 3' direction. This poses special problems for replicating
double-stranded DNA.
The double-stranded DNA
shown above is unwinding and ready for replication. Note the
antiparallel nature of the strands; that is, the 5' to 3'
orientation of the top strand and the 3' to 5' orientation of the
complementary bottom strand.
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