Question

For replication of the lagging strand, DNA is constructed in small segments called ____________ that are rapidly linked to longer pieces of DNA synthesized earlier.

-Ouabain fragments
-Watson fragments
-Okazaki fragments
-Tokyo fragments
-Osaka fragments

Answer 1

For replication of the lagging strand, DNA is constructed in small segments called Okazaki fragments. These are short stretches synthesized in the direction away from the replication fork and are then linked together to form a continuous DNA strand.

Step-by-step explanation:

For replication of the lagging strand, DNA is constructed in small segments called Okazaki fragments that are rapidly linked to longer pieces of DNA synthesized earlier.

Contrary to what is suggested by option b, Okazaki fragments are not long stretches; they are actually short stretches of DNA. These fragments are synthesized in the direction away from the replication fork, as detailed in option d. This process occurs because DNA polymerase can only synthesize DNA in the 5' to 3' direction and, as a result, the lagging strand is made discontinuously. Option a correctly describes the nature of Okazaki fragments.

Each Okazaki fragment begins with an RNA primer, which is later replaced by DNA nucleotides, and DNA ligase then seals the fragments to create the continuous lagging strand. This crucial process in DNA replication was discovered by Japanese scientists Reiji and Tsuneko Okazaki, lending their name to these DNA segments.