Final answer:
Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomeres and is crucial for cell division in germ, stem, and cancer cells, but does not follow the typical dominant or recessive genetic patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Telomerase is not a type of cancer gene like the tumor-suppressor genes or proto-oncogenes, rather it is an enzyme that is responsible for the maintenance and lengthening of telomeres at chromosome ends.
Since telomerase is typically active in germ cells, adult stem cells, and cancer cells, its presence is crucial for the limitless cell division observed in cancer. The idea of dominant or recessive does not apply to telomerase in the same way it applies to genes, as telomerase activity is mostly regulated based on the cell's type and state rather than inherited through a dominant or recessive allele.