What is the role of helicase in DNA replication?

Helicase is an enzyme responsible for unwinding the DNA double helix during replication. It breaks the hydrogen bonds between the complementary nitrogenous bases, separating the two strands of DNA and creating the replication fork. This unwinding process is essential because it makes the single-stranded DNA templates available for DNA polymerase to synthesize new complementary strands. Without helicase, the DNA strands would remain in their double-helix form, preventing the replication process from proceeding.