What is the role of helicase during DNA replication?

During DNA replication, helicase plays a crucial role by unwinding the double helix structure of DNA. This enzyme moves along the DNA strand and breaks the hydrogen bonds between the base pairs, separating the two strands of the DNA molecule. This unwinding is essential because it allows each strand of the DNA to serve as a template for the synthesis of new complementary strands. As the helicase progresses, it creates a replication fork, an area where the DNA is actively being separated and prepared for replication.

The other options describe processes that are important but do not pertain to the specific function of helicase in DNA replication. For instance, assembling amino acids into proteins is the role of ribosomes and associated factors during translation. The synthesis of RNA is performed by RNA polymerase during transcription. Binding to ribosomes pertains to the function of rRNA and the process of translation. Thus, option B accurately describes the specific function of helicase in the context of DNA replication.