RNA primers are necessary in DNA synthesis because
A) DNA polymerase is unable to initiate replication without an origin.
B) the DNA polymerase enzyme can catalyze the addition of deoxyribonucleotides only onto the 3´ (-OH) end of an existing strand.
C) RNA primase is the first enzyme in the replication complex.
D) primers mark the sites where helicase has to unwind the DNA.
E) All of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

RNA primers are necessary because the DNA polymerase enzyme can catalyze the addition of deoxyribonucleotides only onto the 3´ (-OH) end of an existing strand. Therefore, without a primer, there would be no strand for DNA polymerase to build off. The RNA primer provides a 3´ end for DNA polymerase to start building off of.

RNA Primers Are Necessary in DNA Synthesis Because