Explain the role of telomerase in chromosome end maintenance and why telomere shortening limits somatic cell division.

• A. Telomerase shortens telomeres with each replication.
• B. Telomerase is active in most somatic cells and maintains telomere length.
• C. Telomerase extends telomeres using its RNA template; most somatic cells lack telomerase, so telomeres shorten with replication, triggering senescence.
• D. Telomeres are irrelevant to cell division.

Answer: (C)