Question

how do cells prevent damage to dna due to the loss of the end of the lagging strand during dna replication?
a. rna primers fill the gaps at the ends of the lagging strand.
b. only certain parts of the dna molecule are replicated.
c. telomeres protect the coding sections of dna.
d. only the leading strand contains genetic instructions.

Explanation:

• RNA primers are removed after DNA replication and do not fill gaps at the ends of the lagging strand to prevent damage.
• DNA replication is a process where the entire DNA molecule (except in some special cases like in some viruses, but not in normal cell - DNA replication) is replicated, so option B is incorrect.
• Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes. They act as a buffer, so when the lagging strand shortens during replication (because of the end - replication problem), the coding regions of DNA are protected.
• Both the leading and lagging strands contain genetic instructions. The leading strand is synthesized continuously, and the lagging strand is synthesized in Okazaki fragments.

Answer:

C. Telomeres protect the coding sections of DNA.