Question

The enzyme telomerase is part protein and part RNA.
What would be the most likely effect of a large deletion in the gene that encodes the RNA part of telomerase, and how would the function of telomerase be affected? Select all that apply.

a. Telomerase would be unable to correctly associate with telomeres.
b. The catalytic center of telomerase, the polymerase, would be altered.
c. Telomerase would lose the ability to synthesize new telomeric sequences to extend the telomere.
d. Telomerase would be unable to proofread its DNA product but would still synthesize telomeres.
e. The telomerase enzyme would be able to make only a few telomeric repeats before falling off.

Answer 1

Answer: Option C and Option E

Explanation:

The effect of deletion in the gene that encodes the RNA part of telomerase is that telomerase would lose the ability to synthesize new telomeric sequences to extend the telomere and the telomerase enzyme would be able to make only a few telomeric repeats before falling off because RNA is dependent on DNA polymerase to add telomeric DNA to telomeres.