Okazaki fragments

Okazaki fragments are short segments of DNA created during DNA replication. Because DNA is copied in a specific direction, the enzyme responsible can only add new nucleotides in one direction on the lagging strand. To handle this, the lagging strand is copied in small sections, or fragments, called Okazaki fragments. These fragments are later joined together to form a complete, continuous strand. This process ensures accurate and efficient copying of both strands of the DNA double helix, allowing cell division and genetic inheritance to occur properly.