What is the primary function of polymerases?

The primary function of polymerases is to synthesize polymer chains from monomer building blocks. This includes a variety of processes, such as DNA replication where DNA polymerases create new DNA strands by linking nucleotide monomers together. In a similar way, RNA polymerases synthesize RNA molecules from nucleotide monomers, facilitating the transcription process. Overall, polymerases serve as essential enzymes that catalyze the formation of polymers, such as nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins, from their respective monomers. This synthesis is crucial for cell function and inheritance, as polymers like DNA hold genetic information, while RNA plays a significant role in translating this information into proteins.