Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

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What role do primers play in DNA synthesis?

  1. They are the final product of DNA replication

  2. They serve as the starting point for DNA synthesis

  3. They degrade DNA

  4. They are compounds that inhibit DNA replication

The correct answer is: They serve as the starting point for DNA synthesis

Primers are crucial for DNA synthesis because they provide a short segment of nucleic acid that serves as a starting point for DNA replication. DNA polymerases, the enzymes responsible for building new DNA strands, cannot initiate synthesis on their own; they require a pre-existing strand to add nucleotides to. The primer, which is usually composed of RNA in the natural process, binds to the single-stranded DNA template and provides the necessary free hydroxyl group for the enzyme to begin adding complementary nucleotides. This function is essential for both DNA replication and Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) in laboratory settings, as without primers, the replication mechanism could not initiate, preventing the production of new DNA strands.

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