Name the enzyme responsible for unwinding the DNA double helix during replication.

The enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix during replication is helicase. This enzyme travels along the DNA strand, breaking the hydrogen bonds between the base pairs, which allows the two strands of the helix to separate. This separation is crucial for DNA replication to occur, as each strand then serves as a template for synthesizing a new complementary strand.

Helicase plays a vital role at the replication fork, creating an open structure that allows other enzymes, like DNA polymerase, to access the single-stranded DNA for replication. This unwinding takes place ahead of the replication machinery and is essential for the correct copying of the genetic material. Understanding the specific function of helicase helps clarify the processes involved in DNA replication and the overall fidelity of genetic information transmission.