The enzyme responsible for joining the Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand during DNA replication is: MCQ with Answer and Explanation

During DNA replication, the lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously in short segments called Okazaki fragments. After the RNA primers are removed and replaced with DNA by DNA polymerase I, the fragments remain separated by nicks in the sugar-phosphate backbone. DNA ligase is the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of phosphodiester bonds between these fragments, sealing the nicks and creating a continuous DNA strand.