Final answer:
Mistakes can occur during DNA replication, including the insertion of a wrong base. DNA polymerase usually corrects these mistakes, but in rare cases, they can result in mutations.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA replication is a highly accurate process, but mistakes can occasionally occur, such as a DNA polymerase inserting a wrong base. These mistakes can happen due to the inherent high rate of error in replication. Repair mechanisms usually correct these mistakes, but in rare cases, mistakes are not corrected, leading to mutations.
For example, if a wrong base is inserted into the growing DNA chain, it can result in a mutation. The DNA polymerase checks whether the newly added base has paired correctly with the base in the template strand. If it is the wrong base, the enzyme removes it and replaces it with the correct one. However, in some cases, these mistakes can go unnoticed and lead to mutations.