Nucleotide addition is a crucial process in DNA and RNA synthesis where nucleotides are sequentially added to a growing nucleic acid chain by enzymes such as DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase. This process ensures the accurate replication and transcription of genetic information, which is essential for cell division and protein synthesis.
The '5' to 3' direction' refers to the orientation in which nucleic acid strands, such as DNA and RNA, are synthesized and read during processes like replication and transcription. This directionality is crucial for the enzymatic functions that ensure accurate genetic information transfer and expression.