Answer to Question #122395 in Molecular Biology for Sania

Question

Q#1: Telomerase is not active in normal human cells.Activation of telomerase would be a requirement for a cell to become cancerous. why it might be the case????
Q#2 Any reason for stacked bases in DNA/RNA absorb small amount of UV light than do unstacked bases.
Kindly briefly explain these questions

Answer 1

1. Activation of telomerase results in the synthesis of telomers that is associated with the increased proliferative capacity of a cell. As a result, activation of telomerase increases the possible number of cell division transforming normal cell into cancerous cells.

2. Bases stacking limits absorption of UV light causing hypochromic effect. The adjacent bases hide the surfaces preventing the absorption of UV light. DNA melting opens the bases increasing the UV absorption (huperchromic effect).