POLK (DNA Polymerase Kappa): POLK is a gene that encodes a member of the Y-family DNA polymerases involved in translesion DNA synthesis. This process allows DNA replication to continue past damaged sites, such as UV-induced lesions or bulky chemical adducts. POLK helps maintain genome stability by preventing replication fork stalling but can also introduce mutations due to its error-prone nature, making it important in DNA repair and mutagenesis.