Question

Why does DNA replication only work in a 5' to 3' direction? Please explain in detail.

Answer 1

Enzymes that replicate DNA using a DNA template are called DNA polymerases. However, there are also enzymes that synthesize DNA using an RNA template (reverse transcriptases) and even enzymes that make DNA without using a template (terminal transferases). Most organisms have more than one type of DNA polymerase (for example, E. coli has five DNA polymerases), but all work by the same basic rules.