Okazaki fragments are small fragments of DNA produced on which strand during DNA replication, and are later joined by ligase to form a continuous strand?

Okazaki fragments are small fragments of DNA produced on which strand during DNA replication, and are later joined by ligase to form a continuous strand?

• A. Okazaki fragments
• B. DNA polymerase
• C. Ligase
• D. SSB proteins

Answer: (A)

Okazaki fragments are short DNA segments synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication. Because DNA polymerase can only extend DNA in the 5' to 3' direction, the lagging strand is built discontinuously in these small pieces, each initiated by an RNA primer. Once synthesis finishes, DNA ligase seals the nicks between fragments to create a continuous strand. The other terms refer to the proteins involved in replication—DNA polymerase makes the DNA, ligase joins fragments, and SSB proteins stabilize single-stranded DNA—so they aren’t the fragment pieces themselves.

Okazaki fragments are short DNA segments synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication. Because DNA polymerase can only extend DNA in the 5' to 3' direction, the lagging strand is built discontinuously in these small pieces, each initiated by an RNA primer. Once synthesis finishes, DNA ligase seals the nicks between fragments to create a continuous strand. The other terms refer to the proteins involved in replication—DNA polymerase makes the DNA, ligase joins fragments, and SSB proteins stabilize single-stranded DNA—so they aren’t the fragment pieces themselves.