The enzyme that creates the primer to start DNA replication is primase , specifically an RNA primase that synthesizes a short RNA primer on the DNA template so DNA polymerase can begin adding nucleotides.

Quick Scoop

  • DNA polymerases cannot start a new strand on their own; they need a free 3′-OH end to extend from.
  • Primase solves this by making a short stretch of RNA (an RNA primer) directly on the single-stranded DNA.
  • Once this RNA primer is in place, DNA polymerase extends it, building the new DNA strand.

In eukaryotes, primase is part of the DNA polymerase alpha–primase complex, which lays down a short RNA segment and then a short DNA segment as a combined primer before the main polymerases take over.

So, if your exam or quiz asks “Which enzyme is responsible for creating a primer that allows the DNA replication process to start?”, the precise answer is: RNA primase (primase enzyme).

TL;DR: Primase (an RNA-synthesizing enzyme) makes the initial RNA primer that lets DNA polymerase start DNA replication.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.