Question

How does the DNA sequence change with distance from the telomere?

Short answer

As we move away from the telomere, the DNA sequence of TTAGGG ceases and leads to the unique sequence of bases (A, G, C, T) that varies as you approach the gene-rich center of the DNA strand.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding DNA structure

DNA consists of four types of nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). These bases pair up with each other to form base pairs i.e., A always pairs with T and G pairs with C. The sequence of these bases forms the genetic code that cells read to create proteins.

Understanding Telomeres

Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA which protects our chromosomes. In humans, every cell's telomere is composed of the repetitive DNA sequence TTAGGG. The primary role of the telomeres is to prevent the chromosome from degradation or fusion with neighboring chromosomes.

Change in DNA sequence with distance from the telomere

As we move away from the telomere, the DNA sequence changes from the repetitive TTAGGG sequence to the unique sequences that code for specific genes. Therefore, the specific sequence of A, T, G, and C bases change as we move from the telomere towards the center of the DNA strand.