Final answer:
Primase does not require an extended DNA sequence to initiate RNA synthesis but creates a short RNA primer that is necessary for DNA polymerase to start DNA synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The enzyme primase does not require an extended DNA sequence to initiate RNA synthesis. Primase is a type of RNA polymerase that synthesizes a short RNA primer, which is necessary for DNA polymerases to begin DNA synthesis. The primer is a short, complementary sequence of five to 10 RNA nucleotides, which is synthesized on the template strand by primase, providing a free 3'-OH group for DNA polymerase to add DNA nucleotides.
During DNA replication, more primers are used in the synthesis of the lagging strand than in the leading strand synthesis because the lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously in the form of Okazaki fragments. Each of these fragments must be initiated by its own RNA primer. After the DNA segments are synthesized, another enzyme, DNA polymerase I, replaces the RNA primers with DNA nucleotides.
In summary, primase plays a critical role in DNA replication by generating the RNA primers that are essential for DNA synthesis. These RNA primers are short and do not require a long template sequence for their creation. Instead, they are synthesized against DNA templates prior to the action of DNA polymerases during replication.