Okazaki fragment

From Freepedia

An Okazaki fragment is a relatively short fragment of DNA created on the lagging strand during DNA replication.

Each Okazaki fragment is initiated near the replication fork at a RNA primer created by primase, and extended by DNA polymerase III. The primer is later removed by RNAse H, and the RNA is replaced with DNA by DNA polymerase I. Adjoining fragments are then linked together by DNA ligase, using phosphodiester bonds, to create a continuous strand of DNA.

Originally discovered by Reiji and Tuneko Okazaki and their collegues while studying replication of bacteriophage DNA in Escherichia coli.