What is the role of the DNA polymerase enzyme?

The role of the DNA polymerase enzyme is to synthesize new DNA strands during the process of DNA replication. This enzyme is essential for the accurate duplication of the genetic material, ensuring that each new cell receives an exact copy of the DNA. DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand by matching them with the corresponding bases on the template strand, following the base-pairing rules. This process is highly coordinated and ensures fidelity in the replication of the genetic code, which is critical for cell division and the inheritance of traits in living organisms.

The other options describe processes that do not align with the primary function of DNA polymerase. For example, cutting DNA into fragments is usually performed by restriction enzymes, while synthesizing new RNA strands is a function of RNA polymerase, not DNA polymerase. Additionally, degrading old DNA strands is not a role of DNA polymerase, as its function is specifically focused on building rather than breaking down DNA.