DNA primase

Definition

DNA primase is an enzyme that synthesizes short RNA primers during DNA replication. It adds a small piece of RNA called a primer to the template DNA strand, providing a starting point for DNA polymerase to bind and begin replication.

Related terms

DNA polymerase:

This enzyme is responsible for adding nucleotides to the growing daughter strands during replication.

Okazaki fragments: Short segments of newly synthesized DNA on the lagging strand that are later joined together by ligase.

Helicase:

An enzyme that unwinds and separates the double-stranded DNA during replication.