Final answer:
In bacterial DNA replication, it is the enzyme primase, not DNA polymerase, that synthesizes the RNA primer. Following primer synthesis by primase, DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to extend the DNA strand.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that in bacteria, DNA polymerase lays down the RNA primer first and then continues replication is false. In fact, the enzyme responsible for synthesizing the RNA primer is primase. DNA polymerase then adds nucleotides to the primer, extending the DNA strand. During the process of DNA replication, the leading strand is synthesized continuously from one primer, while the lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously in short stretches called Okazaki fragments, each requiring a separate RNA primer made by primase. After the fragments are created, RNA primers are replaced with DNA nucleotides by DNA polymerase I, and DNA ligase seals the gaps between the fragments.