Final answer:
Helicase is the enzyme that separates DNA strands by breaking hydrogen bonds during DNA replication, allowing the DNA polymerase to synthesize new strands.
Step-by-step explanation:
The enzyme involved in separating DNA strands during DNA replication is called helicase. Helicase unwinds the DNA at the origin of replication using energy from ATP hydrolysis. The hydrogen bonds between the nucleotide bases are broken, which allows the strands to separate and form a replication fork. This movement by helicase is essential for both the leading and lagging strands to be synthesized, with DNA polymerase building the new strands in the 5' to 3' direction.
If helicase is mutated, the DNA strands will not be successfully separated at the replication fork, hindering the process of replication. Helicase uses ATP hydrolysis to open up the DNA helix and create a replication fork, allowing for the synthesis of new DNA strands.