How is the leading strand of DNA synthesized during replication?

The leading strand of DNA is synthesized towards the replication fork and continuously. During DNA replication, the two strands of the double helix unwind, creating a replication fork where the two strands separate. The enzyme DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides in a 5' to 3' direction. The leading strand, which runs in the 3' to 5' direction as the fork opens up, allows DNA polymerase to synthesize a new strand continuously as the DNA unwinds. This means that nucleotides are added in a smooth, ongoing process as the fork progresses, which differentiates it from the lagging strand that is synthesized in segments.

This continuous synthesis towards the replication fork ensures that the leading strand can be created without interruption, making the replication process more efficient on this side of the fork.