Question

RNA primers must be ___ and the individual Okazaki fragments must be ___ together to form one DNA strand

Answer 1

RNA primers must be removed, and Okazaki fragments must be joined by DNA ligase to form a continuous DNA strand.

Step-by-step explanation:

RNA primers must be removed and the individual Okazaki fragments must be joined together to form one DNA strand. During DNA replication, especially on the lagging strand, DNA is synthesized in short sections known as Okazaki fragments. Each fragment begins with an RNA primer that initiates the synthesis. These RNA primers are later removed, and the gaps are filled with DNA nucleotides by DNA Polymerase I. After the replacement of RNA primers with DNA nucleotides, the Okazaki fragments are joined together or 'stitched' by the enzyme DNA ligase, which creates phosphodiester bonds between the adjacent fragments to form a continuous DNA strand.