DNS – Zone Transfer From Linux DNS to Windows Domain

So, I am tasked with setting up Active Directory, however, the powers that be would like to keep some of the Linux pieces in play, e.g. DNS.
So, essentially, I am setting up a different domain and would like to have the DNS transferred from the primary to my 08 box. The linux admin has set it up so that my Windows box is allowed to query the DNS server and be a “slave” (linux term I guess) DNS box.
Here are my questions:

Does my windows DNS server need to be on the same domain as the linux master?

Would it be smarter/easier for me to drop my AD boxes into the current domain? (Trying to get Samba out of the picture)