Final answer:
Okazaki fragments are found on the lagging strand of a chromosome and are short stretches of DNA synthesized away from the replication fork. Each fragment requires a primer for synthesis. The leading strand, on the other hand, is synthesized continuously and does not contain Okazaki fragments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The portion of a chromosome that contains Okazaki fragments is the lagging strand. Okazaki fragments are short stretches of DNA that are synthesized discontinuously in the direction away from the replication fork. These fragments are named after Japanese scientists Reiji and Tsuneko Okazaki, who discovered them in 1966. In contrast, the leading strand is synthesized continuously, in the direction of the replication fork movement, and does not contain Okazaki fragments.
DNA polymerase is the enzyme responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands. The leading strand requires only one RNA primer to begin synthesis and can be extended continuously. However, on the lagging strand, each Okazaki fragment requires its own RNA primer, as the synthesis direction is opposite to the movement of the replication fork. This results in multiple short DNA fragments that will later be linked together to form a continuous strand.
Overall, the synthesis of both the leading and lagging strands occurs concurrently, with the lagging strand made in small pieces known as 'Okazaki fragments'. It is crucial for the understanding of DNA replication and genetic fidelity.