Which enzyme in DNA replication is a potential source of new mutations?

DNA polymerase plays a crucial role in DNA replication by adding nucleotides to the growing DNA strand, ensuring that the genetic information is accurately copied from the template strand. However, during this process, it can introduce errors, such as inserting the wrong nucleotide. These errors can lead to mutations if they are not corrected by proofreading mechanisms.

While DNA polymerase has a proofreading ability that helps catch and correct many of these mistakes, it is not entirely infallible. If an error is made and not corrected, it becomes a permanent change in the DNA sequence when the cell divides. Over time, accumulation of these mutations can lead to various genetic conditions or cancer.

Other enzymes mentioned, such as DNA ligase, RNA polymerase, and telomerase, do not directly contribute to the creation of new mutations during DNA replication in the same way. DNA ligase primarily functions to join Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand and does not involve nucleotide incorporation. RNA polymerase is involved in the transcription process, synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, rather than DNA replication, while telomerase extends the ends of chromosomes but does not participate in the accuracy of DNA replication itself. Therefore, the inherent error-prone nature of DNA polymerase during the