AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -As the DNA polymerase synthesises a part and then should wait for the helicase to open up more of the DNA helix upstream, the Okazaki fragments are formed on the lagging strand.

Detailed explanation-2: -Okazaki fragments are pieces of DNA that are transient components of lagging strand DNA synthesis at the replication fork.

Detailed explanation-3: -The strand that opens in the 3’ to 5’ direction towards the replication fork is referred to as the lagging strand. The strand that runs in the 5’ to 3’ direction in the replication fork is referred to as the leading strand. The strand is replicated discontinuously.

Detailed explanation-4: -On the lagging strand, DNA synthesis restarts many times as the helix unwinds, resulting in many short fragments called “Okazaki fragments.” DNA ligase joins the Okazaki fragments together into a single DNA molecule.

Detailed explanation-5: -The leading strand is continuously synthesized and is elongated during this process to expose the template that is used for the lagging strand (Okazaki fragments). During the process of DNA replication, DNA and RNA primers are removed from the lagging strand of DNA to allow Okazaki fragments to bind to.