Which DNA repair mechanism specifically addresses mispaired bases in DNA?

Mismatch repair is the mechanism specifically designed to identify and correct mispaired bases in DNA. During DNA replication, errors can occur, leading to the incorporation of the wrong nucleotide. Mismatch repair proteins recognize these mismatches and work to remove the erroneous section of DNA. After excising the mispaired region, the DNA polymerase synthesizes the correct DNA sequence, followed by ligation to restore the DNA strand.

Base excision repair is primarily involved in correcting small-scale damage such as modified or damaged bases rather than addressing mismatched pairs. Nucleotide excision repair handles bulky DNA adducts and lesions that distort the DNA helix, such as those caused by UV light or chemical exposure. Single-strand repair mechanisms are generally related to the repair of single-strand breaks induced by radiation or chemicals. Hence, the specific role of mismatch repair in correcting mispaired bases distinctly positions it as the correct answer.