Consequences of Error-Prone DNA Polymerase

During DNA replication, specific enzymes and proteins coordinate to ensure accuracy and fidelity. One crucial component is helicase, which unwinds the DNA double helix, enabling the replication machinery to access the template strands. DNA polymerases synthesize new strands in a 5' to 3' direction, requiring a primer for initiation. However, discrepancies can occur, leading to mutations, which may be corrected by various repair mechanisms such as mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair.

Imagine a scenario where a specific DNA polymerase is mutated and exhibits reduced fidelity during DNA synthesis. This altered enzyme fails to recognize some mismatched nucleotides effectively, resulting in a higher mutation rate inherited in the organism's progeny. Which of the following statements best describes the consequence of this error-prone DNA polymerase during replication?