Final answer:
The DNA polymerase extends the primers by adding nucleotides to the growing DNA strand.
Step-by-step explanation:
Immediately after the primers have annealed to the target sequence, what happens?
- The DNA polymerase extends the primers by adding nucleotides to the growing DNA strand.
Step-by-step Explanation:
After the primers have annealed to the target sequence, the DNA polymerase binds to the primers and starts adding nucleotides to the 3'-OH end of the primer. This process is called extension. As the DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the primer, it creates a new DNA strand that is complementary to the original DNA strand. This extension occurs in both the leading and lagging strands during DNA replication or PCR.