What chemical force must be overcome in order to separate the two DNA strands during replication?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

DNA replication involves the separation of the two DNA strands, which are held together by hydrogen bonds between the complementary base pairs. DNA helicase is a protein that acts as an enzyme to break these hydrogen bonds, thereby unwinding the double helix and allowing DNA polymerase to read the template strand and synthesize a new complementary strand. The other options, hydrophobic interactions, intrastrand folding, ionic bonds, and phosphodiester bonds, all play important roles in the structure and stability of DNA, but do not directly affect the separation of the two strands during replication.

What Chemical Force Must Be Overcome in Order to Separate