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Telomerase is an enzyme made of RNA and protein that extends the G-rich strand of telomeres in DNA. It adds repetitive DNA sequences ('TTAGGG' in vertebrates) to the 3' ends of telomeres, which are located at the tips of eukaryotic chromosomes. These telomeres consist of tightly packed DNA, contributing to chromosome stability. The enzyme functions as a reverse transcriptase and uses its own RNA template to lengthen telomeres, which shorten with each DNA replication cycle. Carol W. Greider identified telomerase in 1984.

1. a) Correct
2. b) Incorrect
3. c) Partially correct
4. d) None of these

Correct answer: a) Correct

Solution

The statement is entirely correct. Telomerase is indeed a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that synthesizes the G-rich strand of telomeres, using its RNA template to elongate the telomeres, which are shortened during DNA replication. This discovery was made by Carol W. Greider in 1984.

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