De novo is a Latin phrase, meaning "from the new," anew, from scratch, or from the beginning. De novo synthesis refers to the synthesis of complex molecules from simple molecules such as sugars or amino acids, as opposed to their being recycled after partial degradation. For example, nucleotides are not needed in the diet as they can be constructed from small precursor molecules such as formate and aspartate.
De novo synthesis also refers to DNA replication. Primase is an RNA Polymerase, and it can add a primer to an existing strand awaiting replication. DNA Polyermase cannot add primers, and therefore, needs Primase to add the primer de novo.
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