Telomere Shortening is a Problem in Which Types of Cells

Question

Telomere shortening is a problem in which types of cells?
A)only prokaryotic cells
B)only eukaryotic cells
C)both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
D)non-dividing cells
E)gametes

Accepted Answer

Telomere shortening is a problem in only eukaryotic cells. Telomeres are the repetitive DNA sequences present at the ends of chromosomes that protect DNA from degradation and fusion with neighboring chromosomes during cell division. During each cell division, a small portion of telomeres is lost, and this process continues until telomeres become critically short, leading to cell senescence or death. This phenomenon is not observed in prokaryotic cells, which have circular chromosomes and telomerase enzyme that maintains the telomere length. Non-dividing cells also do not experience telomere shortening, and gametes have specific mechanisms to maintain telomere length.