Final answer:
Photolyase is an enzyme that repairs thymine dimers, which are abnormal covalent bonds formed between adjacent thymidine bases due to exposure to UV light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of photolyase is to repair thymine dimers. Thymine dimers are abnormal covalent bonds formed between adjacent thymidine bases due to exposure to UV light. The photoreactivation process directly reverses this damage by the action of the enzyme photolyase, which breaks apart the thymine dimer in the presence of visible light.