What are the short fragments of DNA on the lagging strand called?

The short fragments of DNA formed on the lagging strand during DNA replication are known as Okazaki fragments. This term honors the Japanese scientist Reiji Okazaki, who, along with his wife, made significant contributions to our understanding of DNA replication mechanics in the 1960s. During replication, the lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously in short segments as the DNA helix unwinds, which results in the formation of these fragments.

The key aspect of Okazaki fragments is that they allow for the efficient replication of DNA, ensuring that both strands can be synthesized simultaneously, despite the fact that DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides in one direction (5' to 3'). On the leading strand, replication occurs smoothly, while on the lagging strand, multiple Okazaki fragments are created and later joined together by the enzyme DNA ligase to form a continuous strand. This process is a fundamental aspect of DNA replication, allowing cells to accurately duplicate their genetic material.