Final answer:
The telomerase mutation is analogous to a broken brake in a car.
Step-by-step explanation:
The telomerase mutation is analogous to a broken brake in a car.
In the context of cell division and cancer, telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that gradually shorten each time a cell divides. Telomerase is an enzyme that can lengthen telomeres and prevent them from getting too short, allowing cells to divide continuously. The mutation in telomerase that causes it to become active in cancer cells is like having a broken brake in a car, where the normal stop signal is malfunctioning, resulting in uncontrolled cell division and proliferation.