What is an okazaki fragment?

Okazaki fragments are short fragments of DNA that are synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication. They were discovered by the husband and wife duo Reiji and Tsuneko Okazaki in the 1960s.

The lagging strand of DNA is synthesized discontinuously, in short fragments called Okazaki fragments, whereas the leading strand is synthesized continuously. The Okazaki fragments are typically around 100 to 200 nucleotides in length in prokaryotes, and slightly shorter in eukaryotes.

After the Okazaki fragments are synthesized, they are joined together by DNA ligase to create a continuous strand of DNA. This process is essential for accurate replication of the entire genome.

Okazaki fragments play a crucial role in DNA replication, as they allow for rapid and efficient synthesis of DNA on the lagging strand while maintaining the fidelity of the genetic information.