# DNA Proofreading --- **DNA proofreading** is an ability that some [[DNA polymerase|DNA polymerases]] have that allow them to check the DNA strand they are laying down during [[DNA replication]] is accurate. Essentially the DNA polymerases (the ones that can perform proofreading, anyway) have a little rudder on their backside that come along and feel for mistakes in [[complementary base pairing|base pairs]] that make the DNA strand form a little bump. If it notices the little bump it stops, pops out the mistaken [[nucleotide]], puts the right one back in, and then keeps on going. ___