Primers are short strands of RNA that are synthesized by the enzyme primase before DNA replication can occur. Primers provide a starting point for DNA synthesis by DNA polymerases to attach new DNA nucleotides to the existing strand. The primers are later removed and the gaps are filled in with DNA.

1. A primer is a short nucleic acid sequence that provides a starting point for DNA
synthesis. In living organisms, primers are short strands of RNA. A primer must be
synthesized by an enzyme called primase, which is a type of RNA polymerase,
before DNA replication can occur.
WHAT ARE PRIMERS?

2. The synthesis of a primer is necessary because the enzymes that
synthesize DNA, which are called DNA polymerases, can only attach new
DNA nucleotides to an existing strand of nucleotides. The primer therefore
serves to prime and lay a foundation for DNA synthesis. The primers are
removed before DNA replication is complete, and the gaps in the sequence
are filled in with DNA by DNA polymerases.
Preliminary function, as well as significance of the primers in
the DNA

3. Discovery of the primers in the light of different studies
related to the DNA replication

4. • Primers are small pieces of RNA, ribonucleic acid,
about five to fifteen nucleotides long. They are made
by a form of RNA polymerase called primase. Primase,
unlike DNA polymerases, does not require a free 3'-OH
end for synthesis.
• A good length for PCR primers is generally around 18-
30 bases. Specificity usually is dependent on length
and annealing temperature. The shorter the primers
are, the more efficiently they will bind or anneal to the
target.
• The main property of primers is that they must
correspond to sequences on the template molecule
(must be complementary to template strand). However,
primers do not need to correspond to the template
strand completely; it is essential, however, that the 3’
end of the primer corresponds completely to the
template DNA strand so elongation can proceed.
Structure of Primers

5. What is the difference between DNA and RNA primers