Question

The Okazaki fragments in DNA chain growth

• A. Result in transcription.
• B. Polymerize in the 3' - 5' direction and forms replication fork.
• C. Prove semi-conservative nature of DNA replication.
• D. Polymerize in the 5' - 3' direction and explain 3' - 5' DNA replication

Answer 1

The correct option is D Polymerize in the 5' - 3' direction and explain 3' - 5' DNA replication

Okazaki fragments are short, newly synthesized DNA fragments that are formed on the lagging template strand during DNA replication. These fragments polymerize in the 5'-to-3' direction and explain 3'-to-5' DNA replication. DNA is synthesised from 5' to 3', thus when copying the 3' to 5' strand, replication is continuous. Phosphodiester links form between the 3' to 5' and nucleotides can be added with the aid of the enzyme DNA polymerase for the continuous leading strand. However, in order to synthesise the lagging strand (the replication fork which is travelling in the opposite direction) synthesis occurs in small sections.