AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The initiation of DNA replication occurs in two steps. First, a so-called initiator protein unwinds a short stretch of the DNA double helix. Then, a protein known as helicase attaches to and breaks apart the hydrogen bonds between the bases on the DNA strands, thereby pulling apart the two strands.

Detailed explanation-2: -DNA Helicase and Its Function in Replication DNA helicase is an enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases.

Detailed explanation-3: -DNA helicases catalyze the disruption of the hydrogen bonds that hold the two strands of double-stranded DNA together. This energy-requiring unwinding reaction results in the formation of the single-stranded DNA required as a template or reaction intermediate in DNA replication, repair and recombination.

Detailed explanation-4: -Key enzyme involved in DNA replication, it is responsible for ‘unzipping’ the double helix structure by breaking the hydrogen bonds between bases on opposite strands of the DNA molecule.