A telomere is a section or region found at the end of a chromosome; it is the final segment of the chromosome. They only exist in eukaryotic organisms. Telomeres are primarily absent from the chromosomes of prokaryotic organisms.
Most prokaryotes lack telomeres because they have circular chromosomes. However, a small percentage of bacterial chromosomes (like Agrobacterium, Streptomyces, and Borrelia) are linear and have telomeres, fundamentally different from eukaryotic chromosomes in terms of structure and function. These bacterial telomeres are either single-stranded DNA hairpin loops or proteins attached to the ends of linear chromosomes.
Prokaryotes mostly have only one chromosome, which is circular. They replicate significantly faster than eukaryotic organisms do. Prokaryotes lack telomeres because they are circular with no endings. The chromosome should be straight or linear to identify its start or end.
Telomeres are only found in eukaryotes because eukaryotes have straight, linear chromosomes that can be identified by their final segment or end.
Telomeres are essential for the replication of DNA, transcription, cell division, ageing processes and chromosome protection.
Read Also:
- Difference between Telomere and Telomerase
- Difference between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic DNA
- Important Notes for NEET Biology – Chromosome Structure
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