A researcher studies normal human fibroblast cells.They can be maintained in culture but die off after about 30 cell generations.Unexpectedly, a colony of cells continues to survive and divide past 30 generations.Which scenario is most likely true for these cells?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Normal human fibroblast cells have limited cell division potential due to the shortening of telomeres with each division. The role of telomerase is to add telomere repeats to the ends of chromosomes, preventing them from becoming too short and allowing the cell to continue dividing. Therefore, the most likely scenario for the colony of cells that continue to survive and divide past 30 generations is that the telomerase gene is being expressed.

A Researcher Studies Normal Human Fibroblast Cells