What feature of the telomerase enzyme allows it to synthesize DNA without the use of a DNA or RNA primer?
A)it synthesizes new DNA in a 3' to 5' direction
B)it contains an RNA oligonucleotide complementary to the telomeric sequence
C)since the telomeric sequence is a 15 base repeat, it is synthesized separately from the replication process and merely sealed in place by the ligase action of telomerase
D)telomeric DNA forms a hairpin that is used to create its own complimentary primer
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Telomerase contains an RNA oligonucleotide that serves as a template for synthesizing telomeric DNA. This RNA is complementary to the telomeric sequence and allows the enzyme to add DNA nucleotides directly onto the end of the chromosome without the need for a DNA or RNA primer.

What Feature of the Telomerase Enzyme Allows It to Synthesize