Telomeres and Aging: Practice Quiz for High School Biology

📚 Topic Summary

Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes, like the plastic tips on shoelaces. They prevent chromosomes from fraying or sticking together. Each time a cell divides, telomeres shorten slightly. Eventually, they become too short, signaling the cell to stop dividing or die. This process is linked to aging. Shorter telomeres are associated with age-related diseases, while maintaining telomere length is a focus of anti-aging research.

🧪 Part A: Vocabulary

Match the following terms with their definitions:

1. Telomere
2. Chromosome
3. Cell Division
4. Aging
5. DNA

Definitions:

1. A thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
2. The process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells.
3. A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
4. The process of growing old.
5. A region of repetitive nucleotide sequences at each end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration or from fusion with neighboring chromosomes.

🧬 Part B: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following paragraph using the words: shorten, aging, telomeres, divide, protective.

__________ are like __________ caps on the ends of chromosomes. Each time a cell undergoes __________, the telomeres __________. This process is associated with __________.

🧠 Part C: Critical Thinking

If scientists could significantly slow down the rate at which telomeres shorten, what potential benefits and drawbacks might this have for human health and society?