What is the primary role of polymerases in cellular processes?

Polymerases are enzymes primarily responsible for the synthesis of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. Their main function involves adding nucleotides one by one to form long chains, effectively creating new nucleic acid molecules. This process is essential for DNA replication during cell division and for transcription, where messenger RNA (mRNA) is synthesized from a DNA template. By catalyzing the formation of phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides, polymerases play a crucial role in the genetic processes that are foundational to cellular function and heredity.

While other cellular processes mentioned, such as cell division and protein transport, are important to overall cellular function, they do not directly involve the action of polymerases. Understanding this specialized role highlights the significance of polymerases in genetics and molecular biology, emphasizing their central position in both replication and expression of genetic information.