I don't think that's correct. Somehow, primitive organisms came into being before the process of biological evolution could begin. These organisms had some primitive genetic code. Whether DNA or RNA came before the organisms is not a question theory of evolution can address.
this has always been a problem for me in totally buying into evolution that is not directed in some way
I don't see why, seeing as how it is totally unrelated to the theory.
- and that major new species just appear as if the design was implanted complete in new members..both male and female..
I don't think that is correct. There are plenty of transitional species in the record and it is pretty clear new features of new species are a straightforward modifications of prior species' features.
To say God directly designed each and every species would be tanamount to saying God is an incompetent designer, since there are so many imperfections and design flaws in so many species.