Final answer:
The statement about Okazaki fragments is false; they are short stretches of DNA on the lagging strand, beginning with RNA primers removed by DNA polymerase I, not an RNA-degrading enzyme. DNA ligase then seals the fragments together.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Okazaki fragments are removed by an enzyme that degrades RNA' is false. Okazaki fragments are short stretches of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand, in the direction away from the replication fork, and they begin with an RNA primer. The RNA primers are removed by DNA polymerase I, an enzyme with 5' to 3' exonuclease activity, which replaces the RNA nucleotides with DNA nucleotides. Following this, DNA ligase seals the fragments, completing the replication process.
Okazaki fragments are thus essential in the replication of the lagging strand. It's the DNA polymerase I that plays a critical role in their processing and not an RNA-degrading enzyme. Flap Endonuclease 1 (FEN 1) also helps by removing 'flaps' that might form during the replication process.