Final answer:
If there were no telomeres on chromosomes, replication would cause the loss of genetic material over time, as DNA polymerase cannot fully replicate the end of the lagging strand, leading to progressively shorter chromosomes and the potential loss of vital genetic information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses what would happen during replication if chromosomes lacked telomeres. Telomeres are repetitive noncoding sequences at the ends of linear chromosomes that protect the genetic material from degradation. They prevent the progressive loss of DNA that would otherwise occur due to the inability of DNA polymerase to completely replicate the ends of chromosomes. This problem is pronounced on the lagging strand, as there is no place to lay down an RNA primer for the final Okazaki fragment, leading to gradual shortening of the chromosome with each cell division. Without telomeres, critical genetic information could be lost, as eventually, replication would truncate parts of the DNA that contain genes.
Telomerase is an enzyme that helps to prevent this loss by adding repetitive nucleotide sequences to the ends of chromosomes, allowing for complete replication. If telomeres were absent, as per the information given, the correct answer to the question is (C) Replication would cause the loss of genetic material. This is because without the protection of telomeres, the ends of chromosomes would shorten after each division, potentially leading to the loss of important genetic information and possibly resulting in malfunction or cell death.