Question

In normal somatic cells, what is telomerase?

Answer 1

Telomerase is an enzyme made of proteins and RNA subunits , that elongates chromosomes by adding telomeres to the end of existing chromosomes.

Explanation:

Telomeres are long stretches of repeating non coding DNA sequences present at the ends of DNA strands.

Telomerase activity is almost undetected in somatic cells including lungs, liver , kidneys , cardiac and skeletal muscles.

Function of telomerase is to allow short replacement of telomeres which are gradually lost during cell division. Each time a cell divides, a part of the telomere is lost. When the telomere becomes too short, the chromosome reaches a critical length and can no longer replicate. This means the cell becomes old , ages and finally dies ( by apoptosis) .
Because most somatic cells lack telomerase they age resulting in an aged body.