Textbook Question
Telomerase synthesizes DNA in the _____ direction.
Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
Not the one you use?Change textbookSelect a different textbook
Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 15, Problem 2
What is the function of primase?
a. Synthesis of the repetitive, short double-stranded DNA sequences required by DNA polymerase.
b. Synthesis of a short RNA strand that is complementary to single-stranded DNA.
c. Closing the gap at the 3′ end of DNA after excision repair.
d. Removing primers and synthesizing a short section of DNA to replace them.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the role of primase in DNA replication. Primase is an enzyme that synthesizes a short RNA primer needed for DNA polymerase to begin DNA synthesis.
Recognize that DNA polymerase cannot initiate the synthesis of a new DNA strand on its own; it requires a primer to provide a starting point.
Identify that the primer synthesized by primase is a short RNA strand that is complementary to the single-stranded DNA template.
Eliminate options that do not describe the synthesis of an RNA primer. For example, options related to DNA synthesis or repair processes are not relevant to the function of primase.
Select the option that correctly describes the synthesis of a short RNA strand complementary to single-stranded DNA, which is the primary function of primase.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
1mWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Primase Function
Primase is an enzyme that synthesizes a short RNA primer complementary to a single-stranded DNA template. This primer provides a starting point for DNA polymerase to begin DNA synthesis, as DNA polymerases can only add nucleotides to an existing strand. Primase is crucial during DNA replication, particularly on the lagging strand, where it repeatedly lays down primers for Okazaki fragment synthesis.
Recommended video:
Guided course
06:04
Functional Groups
DNA Replication
DNA replication is the process by which a cell duplicates its DNA before cell division. It involves unwinding the double helix, synthesizing new complementary strands using the original strands as templates, and ensuring accuracy through proofreading mechanisms. Key enzymes include helicase, primase, DNA polymerase, and ligase, each playing a specific role in the replication process.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:37Introduction to DNA Replication
RNA Primer
An RNA primer is a short segment of RNA synthesized by primase during DNA replication. It is complementary to the DNA template strand and provides a free 3'-OH group for DNA polymerase to extend. The primer is later removed and replaced with DNA nucleotides, ensuring the newly synthesized DNA strand is continuous and complete.
Recommended video:
Guided course
04:191) RNA Processing
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Researchers design experiments so that only one thing is different between the treatments that are being compared. In the Hershey–Chase experiment, what was this single difference?
1
views
Textbook Question
Which of the following is not a property of DNA polymerase?
a. It adds dNTPs only in the 5'→3' direction.
b. It requires a primer to begin synthesis.
c. It opens the two strands of DNA at the replication fork.
d. Its exonuclease activity is involved in proofreading.
Textbook Question
How are Okazaki fragments synthesized?
a. By using the leading-strand template, and synthesizing 5'→3'
b. By using the leading-strand template, and synthesizing 3'→5'
c. By using the lagging-strand template, and synthesizing 5'→3'
d. By using the lagging-strand template, and synthesizing 3'→5'.