Question

Why do okazaki fragments form?

Answer 1

Okazaki fragments:

1. Okazaki fragment nothing but is a short newly-synthesized DNA fragment on the lagging template strand formed during the DNA replication.
2. Okazaki fragments are 100-200 nucleotides long.
3. DNA polymerase synthesizes a new strand in only a 5’→3’ direction so the template strand of the DNA having 5’→3’ polarity is synthesized discontinuously and called a lagging strand.
4. Therefore, Okazaki fragments are complementary to the lagging strand, which runs in the 5’- 3’ direction.
5. It is replicated away from the replication fork in the opposite direction of the replication fork movement.
6. The periodic break in the process causes the formation of Okazaki fragments, which are later joined together by DNA ligase.