What is the reason for Okazaki fragments being formed during DNA replication?

The correct answer is - To enable replication of the 3′ → 5′ (lagging) strand
The reason for Okazaki fragments being formed during DNA replication is to enable replication of the 3′ → 5′ (lagging) strand. Okazaki fragments are short fragments of DNA nucleotides that are produced in a discontinuous manner on the 3’5’ (lagging) strand.

It is later joined together by an enzyme known as DNA ligase. It is important to note that the Okazaki fragment has about 100 to 200 bases sequence in eukaryotes and 1000 to 2000 base sequences in prokaryotes.

Okazaki fragments are produced on the 3’5’ strand because there is no 3’5’ stand of DNA polymerase to carry out DNA replication on the lagging strand. These fragments were named by Rollin Hotchkiss in 1968.

The Okazaki fragments are usually formed during DNA replication. During DNA replication, the DNA and RNA primers will be removed from the strand of DNA that is lagging. This will allow the Okazaki fragments to just bind to the DNA.

Okazaki fragments will also mature but in order for that to happen, the RNA primers would need to create some segments on the fragments. By doing this, the fragment will be properly ligated. The mature Okazaki fragments will then be used as the building blocks for the synthesis of DNA. All of these are needed for the lagging DNA strand.

The okazaki fragments formed during replication enables the replication of the 3’ 5’ (lagging strand). They are short sequences of DNA nucleotides newly synthesize on the lagging strand. It acts as the building block for the synthesis of DNA in the lagging strand. The fragments are synthesize discontinuously and are later linked together by enzyme DNA ligase to create the lagging strand during DNA replication.

Primase generates short strands of RNA that bind to the leading strand of the DNA to initiate replication.
Okazaki fragments do not form the template for the RNA primers. The fragments do not help the DNA helicase unwinding the DNA helix.