Question

heres the thing: single - stranded dna gets degraded by enzymes. as a result, chromosomes shorten every time they are copied. life scientists call this the end - replication or end - chromosome problem.
recall that chromosomes get copied before every cell division.
which populations of cells would experience the end - replication problem?
eukaryotic cells that divide rapidly to produce growth, like those found in embryos, seedlings, and the lengthening tips of adult plants.
eukaryotic cells that divide rapidly because they are cancerous (exhibit uncontrolled growth).
prokaryotic cells like bacteria and archaea, which have circular chromosomes and divide rapidly when growing conditions are good.
eukaryotic cells that divide rapidly to replace lost or damaged cells, such as those in the human immune (defense) system, gut lining, skin, and hair follicles.
why is chromosome shortening a problem? the answer has several components, but one of the most direct is that the sequences for genes near the ends of chromosomes will be disrupted or eliminated.

Explanation:

• Eukaryotic cells have linear chromosomes. During DNA replication (which occurs before cell division), the end - replication problem (chromosome shortening) happens because of the nature of DNA polymerase (it can only add nucleotides in the \(5'\to3'\) direction) and the structure of linear chromosomes.
• Prokaryotic cells have circular chromosomes. Since there are no true "ends" in the same sense as linear chromosomes, they do not experience the end - replication problem in the same way as eukaryotic cells.
• Eukaryotic cells that divide (whether for growth, to replace damaged cells, or due to uncontrolled growth like cancer cells) have linear chromosomes. Every time they replicate (before division), the end - replication problem can occur.

Answer:

Eukaryotic cells that divide rapidly to produce growth, like those found in embryos, seedlings, and the lengthening tips of adult plants; Eukaryotic cells that divide rapidly because they are cancerous (exhibit uncontrolled growth); Eukaryotic cells that divide rapidly to replace lost or damaged cells, such as those in the human immune (defense) system, gut lining, skin, and hair follicles.