Final answer:
Primase and clamp proteins are two critical components that assemble at the replication fork, functioning as part of the complex replisome during the DNA replication process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both the primase and clamp proteins assemble at the replication fork. These components do not exist as free complexes because they are integral to the replication machinery, known as the replisome. During DNA replication, a myriad of proteins and enzymes come together to accurately copy the DNA. Primase synthesizes a short RNA primer that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis while clamp proteins stabilize the DNA polymerase on the DNA strand. The replisome is responsible for unwinding the DNA helix, synthesizing the new DNA strands, and proofreading to minimize errors.