Why don't cells last the entire lifetime of an organism?
A) The removal of the RNA primer following DNA replication leads to a shortening of the chromosome and eventual cell death.
B) The enzyme telomerase is readily destroyed by the environment, resulting in cell death.
C) DNA replication is subject to errors, causing premature cell death.
D) Okazaki fragments disrupt protein synthesis, resulting in premature cell death.
E) The repeating telomeric sequence of TTAGGG interferes with normal DNA replication and leads to cell death.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Telomeres, which are repetitive sequences at the ends of chromosomes, shorten with each cell division due to the removal of the RNA primer. This shortening eventually leads to cell senescence or death when the telomeres become too short to protect the chromosome ends.

Why Don't Cells Last the Entire Lifetime of an Organism