Why does telomerase have to have a built-in template for DNA synthesis? See Section 15.4 (Page). View Available Hint (s) A) Telomerase is involved in adding DNA to the end of the leading strand. B) All of lagging strand synthesis requires genetic information that is not present in the parent DNA molecule. C) Telomerase is involved in adding DNA to the end of the lagging strand. D) All of leading strand synthesis requires genetic information that is not present in the parent DNA molecule.

Telomerase is involved in adding DNA to the end of the lagging strand.

Explanation:

Telomerase is the enzyme of DNA replication that serves to lengthen the telomeric DNA by the addition of repetitive nucleotides to the linear ends of eukaryotic DNA. Since DNA replication is discontinuous in lagging strand and DNA polymerase requires primer and template for DNA synthesis, the ends of lagging DNA strands are not replicated by DNA polymerase.

Telomeres contain short, non-coding repeats at the end of chromosomes. These repeats are rich in T and G nucleotides in humans. Telomers also have short internal RNA and protein components (telomerase). Telomerase serves to add more T and G residues to TG repeats by using the internal RNA as a primer. Repositioning of internal template RNA allows the addition of more T and G residues by telomerase enzyme which in turn would facilitate the completion of DNA replication on lagging strand by DNA polymerase.