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GATE 2025 BT – Question 52

Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology: Replication, transcription, splicing, translation, non-coding and micro RNA, RNA interference, DNA damage and repair · 2 marks · Multiple select

Which of the following statements is/are true about telomerase?

  1. Telomerase has 5'-3' DNA-dependent DNA polymerisation activity
  2. Telomerase has 5'-3' RNA-dependent DNA polymerisation activity
  3. Telomerase contains an RNA subunit
  4. Telomerase has 3'-5' DNA-dependent DNA polymerisation activity

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Correct answer: (B) Telomerase has 5'-3' RNA-dependent DNA polymerisation activity; (C) Telomerase contains an RNA subunit

Explanation

Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase (TERT) that extends the 3' end of the chromosome in the 5' to 3' direction, using the RNA subunit (TERC) as the template. So it is an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase.