In most normal human somatic cells, telomeres shorten with each division. In stem cells and in cancer cells, however, telomere length is maintained. In the synthesis of telomeres: Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein, provides both the RNA and the polymerase needed for synthesis. the direction of synthesis is 3'~5'. the polymerase of telomerase is a DNA-directed DNA polymerase. the RNA of telomerase serves as a primer. the shorter, 3'~5' strand gets extended.

Question

Biology

Madeleine Fisher

5 October, 08:33

In most normal human somatic cells, telomeres shorten with each division. In stem cells and in cancer cells, however, telomere length is maintained. In the synthesis of telomeres: Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein, provides both the RNA and the polymerase needed for synthesis. the direction of synthesis is 3'~5'. the polymerase of telomerase is a DNA-directed DNA polymerase. the RNA of telomerase serves as a primer. the shorter, 3'~5' strand gets extended.

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Winston Kennedy · Answer 1

Provides both the RNA and the polymerase needed for synthesis

Explanation:

Telomerase is an enzyme which extends the telomere sequences present at the end of the chromosomes. The telomerase enzyme acts as DNA polymerase as well as provides the RNA which serves as a template strand rather than the primer.

The polymerase acts as a reverse transcriptase enzyme and synthesizes the DNA strand from the RNA template. Since the telomerase provides RNA and acts as DNA polymerase, therefore, it is known as the ribonucleoprotein molecule.

Thus, the selected option is correct.