In DNA replication,a primer is
A) what the original DNA strands are called.
B) an enzyme that breaks the hydrogen bonds between base pairs.
C) a short piece of nucleic acid that 'jump starts' the replication process.
D) a molecule that provides the energy for nucleotide attachments.
E) a regulatory protein that turns on the gene that starts DNA replication.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A primer is a short piece of nucleic acid that is complementary to a specific sequence on the DNA template strand. It serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis by providing a 3' OH group for the attachment of incoming nucleotides. DNA polymerase can then extend the primer by adding complementary nucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction. Without a primer, DNA polymerase cannot initiate DNA synthesis.

In DNA Replication,a Primer Is