AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The central enzyme involved is DNA polymerase, which catalyzes the joining of deoxyribonucleoside 5′-triphosphates (dNTPs) to form the growing DNA chain.

Detailed explanation-2: -Special proteins are responsible for loading primase at the origin of replication so that leading strand DNA synthesis can commence. In a subsequent step, other replication proteins cause primase to initiate DNA replication on the opposite lagging strand.

Detailed explanation-3: -It is critical that primers are synthesized by primase before DNA replication can occur. This is because the enzymes that synthesize DNA, which are called DNA polymerases, can only attach new DNA nucleotides to an existing strand of nucleotides. Therefore, primase serves to prime and lay a foundation for DNA synthesis.

Detailed explanation-4: -An enzyme called primase starts the process. This enzyme makes a small piece of RNA called a primer. This marks the starting point for the construction of the new strand of DNA. An enzyme called DNA polymerase binds to the primer and will make the new strand of DNA.