key term - DNA Polymerase III

Definition

DNA Polymerase III is an enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the 3' end of a pre-existing or newly synthesized DNA strand.

Related terms

DNA Polymerase I:

This enzyme removes RNA primers from fragments and replaces them with appropriate nucleotides during DNA replication.

Primase: An enzyme that creates RNA primers on which the DNA polymerases can initiate replication.

Ligase:

An enzyme that connects two fragments of DNA to make a single fragment; it's like the glue that holds different parts of the new DNA strand together.