What is helicase's primary function in DNA replication?

The primary function of helicase in DNA replication is to break the hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs. This action is crucial because it unwinds the double helix structure of DNA, allowing the two strands to separate. Once the strands are separated, they can serve as templates for the synthesis of new complementary DNA strands during replication. By breaking these hydrogen bonds, helicase facilitates the replication process, ensuring that the genetic information is accurately copied and transmitted during cell division.

Other functions mentioned in the options, such as stabilizing DNA strands or synthesizing new strands and RNA primers, involve different enzymes or proteins in the replication process. For instance, single-strand binding proteins are responsible for stabilizing the separated strands to prevent them from re-annealing or forming secondary structures. DNA polymerase is the enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands, while RNA primase synthesizes the RNA primers necessary for initiation of DNA replication.