Created on Dec. 27, 2012, 6:10 p.m. by Hevok & updated by Hevok on May 2, 2013, 5:01 p.m.
Telomeres are repeated series of DNA sequences (TTAGGG
in mammals) at the very end of chromosomes and become shorter during cell division due to the end replication problem
. They protect the ends from deterioration or from fusion with neighboring chromosomes. Short telomeres are associated with various age-related pathological states [22835139]. The enzyme Telomerase is able to elongate telomeres, but its expression is shut down during maturation/differentiation in most of the somatic cells of Aging organisms.
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