Biology / Unit 6 Bio 1219 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Primase and the RNA Primer
Captions available
The idea
Primase synthesizes a short RNA primer complementary to the DNA template, giving DNA polymerase the starting point it needs.
In practice
A primer roughly five to ten nucleotides long is laid down before DNA polymerase adds a single DNA nucleotide.
Where people slip
DNA polymerase cannot start a strand from nothing — every new DNA strand begins from an RNA primer, later removed and replaced.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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