Describe the significance of Okazaki fragments?

Answer 1

Okazaki fragments are created during DNA replication because DNA Polymerase can only add nucleotides in a 5' to 3' direction.

This means that one strand (the leading strand) can be continuously created, but the other strand (the lagging strand) runs in the opposite direction. This means that loops must be created and shorter parts of DNA replicated one at a time.

This creates fragments on the lagging strand. The RNA primers on this strand are later replaced with DNA by DNA Polymerase I, and joined together with DNA ligase.

Answer 2

They are produced because of the need for the DNA polymerase to always synthesize in a 5' to 3' direction. The fragments are subsequently ligated together by DNA ligase to form a continuous strand.

Answer 3

it has no role really.it just occurs because the two dna strands are antiparallel and the polymerase can only synthesise the polynucleotide in the 5' to 3' direction.this reults in one strand having to be synthesised in sections as the polymerase cannot synthesise the addition of the 3'end of one newlly synthesised piece of dna to the 5' end of another!

Answer 4

Without them, the lagging strand would not be created and therefore, the daughter DNA strand would be incompletee and be replicated improperly.

Answer 5

to produce a continuous strand of DNA to complete daughter DNA helix