Problem:
From what I have read and understood telomeres cap off how many times a cell can divide before it can no longer divide and that is what causes aging. A tale cress plant apparently has a life cycle of 6 weeks before it dies, while the Methuselah tree has set the record at over 4,800+ years.
Required:
Question 1: What is the difference between these two plants regarding their telomeres?
Question 2: Is the cell division rate different between both plants instead of a telomeres difference?
Question 3: If given ideal conditions what could the potential life-span of a Methuselah tree be? Please answer all the questions.