Question

Which of the following statements best describes Okazaki fragments?

a. they are formed in the leading strand
b. they add nucleotides to the elongating DNA
c. they are formed in the lagging strand
d. they are synthesized by primes

Answer 1

Okazaki fragments are short stretches of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication, in a direction away from the replication fork, starting with an RNA primer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement that best describes Okazaki fragments is: they are short stretches of DNA on the lagging strand, which is synthesized in the direction away from the replication fork. These fragments are essential for the discontinuous synthesis of the lagging strand during DNA replication, as DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to the free 3' end in the 5' to 3' direction. Therefore, the lagging strand is synthesized in short segments that are later connected by DNA ligase to form a continuous strand. Each Okazaki fragment begins with an RNA primer created by primase, and is then extended by DNA polymerase.