What Catalyzes DNA Synthesis?

In 1950s, When Francis Crick and James Watson deduced the structure of DNA, all they really
did was open up questions of more value and understanding of DNA: how did such a simple
molecule control heredity and guide the development and maintenance of nearly all life on
Earth? The answer turned out to be baffling yet deceptively simple. DNA carries an information
code -- a code it transfers to RNA, which uses the information to build proteins. Because the
structure of proteins defines the structure and function of living organisms, when DNA is copied
it carries hereditary information through generations. Thus, DNA is unique organism which
reveals the uniqueness of every individual and living thing.
The DNA Code
DNA is not like any computer code which runs from ones and zeros. Instead, it has four different
components: adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine. These four components are the nuclear
bases, in slightly different chemical form, nucleosides or nucleotides. They are often termed with
the initials A, G, T and C. DNA molecules are very long sequences of these four bases. The
order of these bases makes the code. The very code is used to represent the order of the amino
acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. However, DNA doesnt build the protein directly;
it rather sends another molecule to do the work.
The RNA Code
The four bases that form DNA code A, G, C and T is passed on to another molecule called RNA.
It is very similar in structure to DNA, but the T (Thymine) is replaced by U (Uracil). The order of
the bases in RNA determines the amino acids. Inside your computer, if 100 stands for the
number 4. Inside your cell, the code ACC, for an example, stands for amino acid threonine.
Now, wherever the code ACC appears, only threonine amino acid will be put into a protein. It
simplifies the process of synthesis. Each three-base sequence which is called a codon stands
for one of the twenty common amino acids.
We understood the whole DNA thing. Lets further look into what catalyzes DNA synthesis. The
enzyme, DNA polymerases catalyzes DNA synthesis which is different from RNA polymerases.
This specific kind of polymerases work in particular conditions and requirements which must be
met to be produced, without these enzymes, the nucleotide that are building blocks of DNA
cannot be made.
Evidently, enzymes work in pairs to create two similar DNA strands required to build the familiar
double helix shape that chromosomes have. Thus, DNA polymerases being to add nucleotides
to the 3 end of the DNA strand which extends the sequence. There is no way for these
enzymes to start a chain from nothing, but must add onto existing 3-OH group. This is the main
reason as to why there has to be a primer in the steps for the enzymes to start building on.
This cannot be singled out, but primarily this is one of the many points where RNA can play an
important role in the reproduction of DNA by acting as a building primer for the DNA enzymes.
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