PRESCOTTS GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
PRESCOTTS GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
10th Edition
ISBN: 9781307273663
Author: WILLEY
Publisher: MCG CUSTOM
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Chapter 15, Problem 1CHI
Summary Introduction

Telomerase is an enzyme that is responsible for the addition of telomeric units or repeats to the end of the bacterial chromosome. This enzyme is critical for maintaining the length of the telomere. Mammalian somatic cells lack the activity of this enzyme and therefore, results in the shortening of telomeres in each of the cellular respiration processes.

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A phenomenon in which the normal diploid cells end the division process is known as cellular senescence. The somatic cells present in the human as well as the majority of animal exhibit the feature of senescence. Such cells undergo division for a particular number of generations and then cease their activity.

A portion of the telomeres (cap ends of the chromosome) is lost during every division until the complete telomeric region disappears as well as the essential genes are lost. On the other hand, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a single-celled microbe that continues to grow as well as it divides throughout its life cycle. Therefore, senescence might be the possible reason for the cessation of telomerase activity in somatic cells.

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Students have asked these similar questions
Telomerase activity has been found to be 10 to 20 times more active in cancer cells than in normal somatic cells. What is the significance of this circumstance?
Currently available in the marketplace are pills that supposedly increase telomerase activity. Based on your knowledge of DNA replication, explain why this would be desirable.
Why do adult human cells (other than germ cells and stem cells) NOT express the enzyme telomerase? In other words what benefit does not having telomerase provide to these cells?
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