What is the role of DNA Polymerase in DNA replication?

DNA Polymerase plays a crucial role in DNA replication by proofreading and adding new nucleotides to the growing DNA strand. During the replication process, DNA Polymerase synthesizes new DNA by incorporating nucleotides complementary to the template strand. This enzyme not only facilitates the addition of nucleotides but also possesses proofreading abilities, allowing it to check for mismatched bases at the replication fork. If an incorrect nucleotide is added, DNA Polymerase can remove and replace it with the correct one, ensuring the accuracy of the newly synthesized DNA. This proofreading function is vital for maintaining genetic fidelity and preventing mutations during cell division.

The other functions mentioned do not pertain directly to the role of DNA Polymerase: sealing DNA fragments is executed by DNA ligase, unwinding the double helix is performed by helicase, and building RNA primers is done by primase. Each of these tasks is essential in DNA replication but is carried out by different enzymes.