Telomeres are specialized structures present at the ends of all chromosomes and are essential for maintaining chromosome integrity; thus they have been implicated in mechanisms involved in aging. Telomeres contain a long stretch of DNA with a simple, repeated TTAGGG sequence (telomeric repeat or TER). These repeats are believed to be important in...

The enzyme telomerase, which replicates telomeres, is thought to be key to cellular immortality. Telomere shortening leads to cellular aging, a process that can be reversed by restoration of the telomeric structure. Meanwhile, up to 90% of human tumor cells show high levels of telomerase activity, compared to it being absent in normal somatic...