Name the enzyme that joins the small fragments of DNA of a lagging strand during DNA replication.

Options

A. RNA polymerase
B. DNA polymerase
C. DNA ligase
D. None of these

Answer

To answer the question, "Name the enzyme that joins the small fragments of DNA of a lagging strand during DNA replication," we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand DNA Replication**: DNA replication is the process by which a cell copies its DNA before cell division. It involves unwinding the double helix and synthesizing new strands.

2. **Identify the Leading and Lagging Strands**: During replication, one strand (the leading strand) is synthesized continuously, while the other strand (the lagging strand) is synthesized in short segments due to the antiparallel nature of DNA.

3. **Recognize the Short Fragments**: The short segments of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand are known as Okazaki fragments.

4. **Determine the Role of Enzymes**: After the Okazaki fragments are synthesized, they need to be joined together to form a continuous strand.

5. **Identify the Enzyme Responsible for Joining**: The enzyme that catalyzes the joining of these Okazaki fragments is called DNA ligase.

6. **Conclude with the Answer**: Therefore, the enzyme that joins the small fragments of DNA on the lagging strand during DNA replication is **DNA ligase**.

### Final Answer:
**DNA ligase**

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