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Multiple Choice
Which of the following enzymes breaks the hydrogen bonds between the DNA strands?
A
Primase.
B
Helicase.
C
Topoisomerase.
D
DNA ligase.
E
DNA polymerase.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structure of DNA: DNA is composed of two strands forming a double helix, held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases.
Identify the role of enzymes in DNA replication: During replication, the DNA strands need to be separated to allow the replication machinery to access the template strands.
Learn about helicase: Helicase is the enzyme responsible for unwinding the DNA double helix by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the strands, allowing the replication fork to progress.
Differentiate between the enzymes listed: Primase synthesizes RNA primers, Topoisomerase relieves the tension in the DNA helix, DNA ligase joins Okazaki fragments, and DNA polymerase synthesizes new DNA strands.
Conclude that helicase is the enzyme that breaks the hydrogen bonds between the DNA strands, facilitating the separation of the strands for replication.