Final answer:
Primase is an RNA polymerase enzyme that synthesizes the RNA primer required to initiate DNA synthesis. The primer is a short chain of ribonucleotides that is complementary to the template DNA strand.
Step-by-step explanation:
Primase is an RNA polymerase enzyme that synthesizes the RNA primer required to initiate DNA synthesis. The primer is a short (8-10) chain of ribonucleotides that is complementary to the template DNA strand. It provides a free 3'-OH group to which DNA polymerase can add DNA nucleotides.