Question

what would be the consequence(s) for dna synthesis if primase were defective? see section 15.3.
○ lagging strand synthesis would be incomplete; leading strand synthesis would be unaffected.
○ leading strand synthesis would be incomplete; lagging strand synthesis would be unaffected.
○ both leading and lagging strand synthesis would be unaffected.
○ both leading and lagging strand synthesis would be incomplete.

Explanation:

Primase is responsible for synthesizing RNA primers. The leading strand is synthesized continuously, but it still requires a primer at the start. The lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously as Okazaki fragments, each of which requires a primer. If primase is defective, both strands would be affected. The leading strand synthesis would be incomplete (as it can't start without a primer), and the lagging strand synthesis (which depends on multiple primers for Okazaki fragments) would also be incomplete.

Answer:

Both leading and lagging strand synthesis would be incomplete.