What direction does DNA polymerase read the template strand during replication?

During DNA replication, DNA polymerase reads the template strand in the 3' to 5' direction. This reading direction is crucial because DNA polymerase synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the growing strand in the 5' to 3' direction. As a result, when it reads the template strand, it must move along it in the opposite direction, which is 3' to 5'. This complementary process ensures that the nucleotides are added in the correct sequence, matching them with the appropriate bases on the template strand. Understanding this directional reading is fundamental to grasping the mechanisms of DNA replication, as it illustrates how the enzyme functions within the overall process.