Telomeres are not necessary in prokaryotes because they have what kind of chromosomes?

Telomeres are not necessary in prokaryotes because they have what kind of chromosomes?

• A. Linear
• B. Segmented
• C. Multichromosome
• D. Circular

Answer: (D)

Telomeres exist to protect the ends of linear chromosomes and to counter the end-replication problem that DNA polymerases face when copying chromosome ends. Prokaryotes typically have a single circular chromosome, which forms a closed loop with no ends. Because there aren’t ends to protect or shorten, telomeres aren’t needed in these organisms. If a genome were linear, those ends would require protective sequences to prevent loss of information and to assist complete replication, which is why a linear or other end-bearing chromosome would conceptually require telomeres. Therefore, the prokaryotic chromosome type described here is circular.

Telomeres exist to protect the ends of linear chromosomes and to counter the end-replication problem that DNA polymerases face when copying chromosome ends. Prokaryotes typically have a single circular chromosome, which forms a closed loop with no ends. Because there aren’t ends to protect or shorten, telomeres aren’t needed in these organisms. If a genome were linear, those ends would require protective sequences to prevent loss of information and to assist complete replication, which is why a linear or other end-bearing chromosome would conceptually require telomeres. Therefore, the prokaryotic chromosome type described here is circular.