In DNA replication, the process of joining Okazaki fragments is conducted by which enzyme?

In DNA replication, the joining of Okazaki fragments is facilitated by the enzyme ligase. During the replication of the lagging strand, short segments of DNA known as Okazaki fragments are synthesized discontinuously. After these fragments are formed, they need to be connected to create a continuous strand. Ligase performs this function by catalyzing the formation of phosphodiester bonds between the sugar-phosphate backbone of adjacent Okazaki fragments, effectively sealing the gaps and ensuring the integrity of the newly synthesized DNA strand.

Other enzymes are involved in the overall process of replication, but their roles are distinct. Primase synthesizes RNA primers necessary for DNA polymerase to begin replication, helicase unwinds the double helix to allow access to the template strands, and DNA polymerase is responsible for adding nucleotides to the growing DNA strand. Each of these enzymes plays a critical role, but ligase specifically is essential for linking the individual Okazaki fragments together into a complete strand.