What is the role of helicase in DNA replication?

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Multiple Choice

What is the role of helicase in DNA replication?

Explanation:
During DNA replication, the first essential step is opening the DNA double helix so the bases can be copied. Helicase acts as the unwinder, using energy from ATP to separate the two strands by breaking the hydrogen bonds between paired bases. This creates the replication fork and exposes single-stranded templates for DNA polymerases to copy. Helicase does not seal bonds (that’s ligase), do the copying (that’s polymerase), or synthesize RNA primers (that’s primase). Its job is to pry apart the strands so the rest of the replication machinery can access the bases.

During DNA replication, the first essential step is opening the DNA double helix so the bases can be copied. Helicase acts as the unwinder, using energy from ATP to separate the two strands by breaking the hydrogen bonds between paired bases. This creates the replication fork and exposes single-stranded templates for DNA polymerases to copy. Helicase does not seal bonds (that’s ligase), do the copying (that’s polymerase), or synthesize RNA primers (that’s primase). Its job is to pry apart the strands so the rest of the replication machinery can access the bases.

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