To avoid cell death, cancer cells extend the ends of these structures, which are telomeres.

To avoid cell death, cancer cells extend the ends of these structures, which are telomeres.

• A. Chromosomes
• B. Genes
• C. Nucleotides
• D. Bases

Answer: (A)

Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, and their maintenance lets cells divide more times than normal. Cancer cells often reactivate telomerase, the enzyme that extends these ends, so the chromosomes don’t shorten and trigger aging or death. This extension of the chromosome ends allows continued cell division and survival. The other options refer to DNA components rather than the structures that telomeres cap: genes are units that encode information, nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA, and bases are the chemical components that pair to form the DNA ladder.

Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, and their maintenance lets cells divide more times than normal. Cancer cells often reactivate telomerase, the enzyme that extends these ends, so the chromosomes don’t shorten and trigger aging or death. This extension of the chromosome ends allows continued cell division and survival. The other options refer to DNA components rather than the structures that telomeres cap: genes are units that encode information, nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA, and bases are the chemical components that pair to form the DNA ladder.