Which of the following characteristics would you expect of a eukaryotic organism that lacks the enzyme telomerase?
A) a high probability of somatic cells becoming cancerous
B) an inability to produce Okazaki fragments
C) an inability to repair thymine dimers
D) a reduction in chromosome length in gametes

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Telomerase is responsible for adding repetitive sequences to the end of chromosomes, which helps to maintain chromosome length during cell division. Therefore, if an organism lacks telomerase, its chromosomes would gradually decrease in length with each round of cell division. This would most likely affect the organism's gametes, as they are produced through meiosis and undergo multiple rounds of cell division. As a result, choice D - a reduction in chromosome length in gametes - is the most likely outcome of a eukaryotic organism that lacks telomerase. Choices A, B, and C are not directly related to telomerase function.

Which of the Following Characteristics Would You Expect of a Eukaryotic