Suppose actively dividing eukaryotic cells were treated with a chemical that blocks the activity of the enzyme telomerase. What would happen to these cells? Large portions of the middle of chromosomes would be single-stranded. Origins of replication could not form in the middle of the chromosome. Okazaki fragments cannot be properly processed. Cells would lose DNA at the ends of the chromosomes over many generations. DNA could not be properly unwound to allow movement of replication forks.

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