Which of the following does NOT describe DNA polymerase?

DNA polymerase is a crucial enzyme involved in the synthesis of DNA during replication. Its primary function is to link nucleotides together to form a new DNA strand, which directly corresponds to the sequence of an existing template strand. This means that it does require a template strand to guide the addition of nucleotides to ensure that the new strand is complementary to the template.

Additionally, DNA polymerase possesses proofreading capabilities, which allow it to check and correct errors that may occur during DNA synthesis. This proofreading function enhances the fidelity of DNA replication, ensuring that the genetic information is accurately transmitted.

However, the unwinding of the DNA double helix is not a function of DNA polymerase itself; instead, this task is performed by another enzyme known as helicase. Helicase is responsible for separating the two strands of the DNA molecule to provide the single-stranded templates needed for synthesis. Therefore, the option indicating that DNA polymerase unwinds the DNA double helix does not accurately describe the role of this enzyme in DNA replication.