Biology

Question

What is the function of DNA ligase?

A. It adds a Poly A tail to the ends of eukaryotic DNA.

B. It adds new base pairs to the original strand.

C. It untwists the strands and removes the hydrogen

bonds.

D. It binds Okazaki fragments together and proofreads the

strands.

Answer

D. It binds Okazaki fragments together and proofreads the strands.

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DNA ligase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in DNA replication and repair. Its primary function is to join the Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand during DNA replication. These fragments are short, newly synthesized DNA segments that are formed on the lagging strand during DNA replication. DNA ligase catalyzes the formation of phosphodiester bonds between the adjacent nucleotides, thus sealing the gaps between the Okazaki fragments and creating a continuous strand of DNA. Additionally, DNA ligase also proofreads the newly synthesized DNA strands, ensuring that the nucleotides are correctly paired and that there are no errors in the DNA sequence.