Question

A) During replication, because the RNA primers are removed, a gap is found on the _______ strand. With each round of replication, this means what happens to chromosome length in somatic cells?

B) Why is it important that telomerase have a RNA component with the sequence AACCCCAAC?

Answer 1

Answer A ) lagging strand

With each round of replication in somatic cell , the length of chromosome become short. Telomere are short Repetitive sequence present at the end of the chromosome become short with each replication. Telomere protect the chromosome from degradation and their shortening is associated with ageing.

Answer B)

The replication of chromosome lead to 5' end problem that is 5' end is not able to replicate while there 3' overhang are present. Telomerase is ribonucleoprotein containing reverse transcriptase telomerase protein component and RNA component. The RNA component binds with 3' overhang at the end of chromosome act as template, guiding reverse transcription component of telomerase to add nucleotide at 3 ' end complementary to RNA.This extension of the 3′ DNA template end in turn allows replication of the 5′ end of the lagging strand. It thus compensates for the continued erosion of telomeres and has been referred to as a ‘cellular immortalizing enzyme.