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Purpose of a telomere

Updated: 8/10/2023
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12y ago

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A telomere is the structure at each end of a chromosome. It consists of an area of highly repeated DNA combined with protein. Its main function is to protect the end of the chromosome.

Telomeres are instrumental in enabling the cells to divide and replicate. But as we grow older these tips wear out and shorten much like the shoelace caps. When they get too short, we get diseases and die. The three Nobel Prize winners found this as they were looking for a cure for cancer.

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11y ago
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9y ago

A telomere is a region of repetitive DNA at the end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration. Its name is derived from the Greek nouns telos meaning "end" and merοs meaning "part".

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13y ago

Telomeres are specialized DNA structures that are present at the end of each chromosome. They protect chromosomes from fusing together as well as from shortening. This maintains the stability of a cell as well as protecting its healthy function. Without these protective caps, chromosomes will lose their integrity and begin to lose their function. The cell would either arrest its cell cycle, also known as senescence, in order to prevent multiplication of defective chromosomes, die, or mutations will occur in the chromosome.

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12y ago

Telomeres are long sequences of DNA at the end of a chromosome that are not duplicated . They protect the ends of chromosomes from deterioration or from fusion with neighboring chromosomes. When the telomere is used up the cell dies.

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10y ago

There are many interesting facts about telomeres. It is a region of very repetitive DNA at the end of a chromosome. They are usually only active in germ cells. Telomeres are made up of six nucleotide bases.

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14y ago
  • It is a ribonucleoprotein..
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12y ago
  • The telomere protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration or from fusion with neighbouring chromosomes.
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Continue Learning about Biology

Explain telomere erosion and the role of telomerase?

A simple explanation of telomere erosion is an act that occurs whenever a cell divides. Telomerase is an enzyme and its role is to control the telomere present.


What is proto-oncogen?

An oncogene is a modified gene, or a set of nucleotides that codes for a protein and is believed to cause cancer.


How many divisions does a cell undergo before it dies?

According to what I've read, a cell undergoes 40 to 60 divisions before it finally dies. One article says, 80 divisions. I do not know which one is correct. This has something to do with the telomeres at the end of DNA helix strands which become shorter every time a cell divides. Once the telomere is exhausted, the cell dies, or continues to mutate leading to cancer when the cell produces telomerase which lengthens the telomere to continue cell division indefinitely.


How did Barbara McClintock made important contributions in the study of genetics?

Barbara Mcclintock made an important contribution in many areas of study in the field of genetics, by decoding the genetic transfer of information between two chromosomes and the clarification of telomere and centromere phases of cell replication.


What can evolution be supported by?

Observation, Fossil evidence, Molecular Evidence (Comparing DNA and proteins) etc.Human chromosome 2 is widely accepted to be a result of an end-to-end fusion of two ancestral chromosomes.EVIDENCE:The correspondence of chromosome 2 to two ape chromosomes. The closest human relative, the chimpanzee, has near-identical DNA sequences to human chromosome 2, but they are found in two separate chromosomes. The same is true of the more distant gorilla and orangutan.The presence of a vestigial centromere. Normally a chromosome has just one centromere, but in chromosome 2 there are remnants of a second centromere.The presence of vestigial telomeres. These are normally found only at the ends of a chromosome, but in chromosome 2 there are additional telomere sequences in the middle.Chromosome 2 presents very strong evidence in favour of the common descent of humans and other apes. According to researcher J. W. IJdo, "We conclude that the locus cloned in cosmids c8.1 and c29B is the relic of an ancient telomere-telomere fusion and marks the point at which two ancestral ape chromosomes fused to give rise to human chromosome 2."That's just one of thousands!

Related questions

Are all of the genes in a cell used?

No, there is garbage DNA at the ends of the chromosomes (Telomere). The telomere does have a purpose but it does not get used for instructions to create fingers or modify skin complexion etc.


What is the medical definition of telomere?

A telomere in medical terminology means the end of a chromosome that is used to regenerate cells. Every time a cell dies the telomere regenerates the cell.


Explain telomere erosion and the role of telomerase?

A simple explanation of telomere erosion is an act that occurs whenever a cell divides. Telomerase is an enzyme and its role is to control the telomere present.


What is the tip of chromosome called?

telomere


What do you call the tip of a chromosome?

Telomere


What are the end of the chromosome called?

telomere


Which part of chromosome exchange during meiosis centromere or telomere?

During meiosis, chromosome exchange occurs at the chiasmata, which are points of crossing over between non-sister chromatids. The exchange involves the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, not specifically at the centromere or telomere regions.


Does the entire DNA replicate?

No, the telomere is shortened after each replication.


What term describes a structure that protects the ends of a chromosome?

A Telomere


What do telomerase do?

enzyme that helps in sythesis and elongation of telomere length


What is the link between telomeres and aging?

Telomeres shorten with each cellular replication; telomere length is inversely proportional to age. While telomere extension does tend to make cells "young again", telomere extension is problematic for a treatment for age because many kinds of cancer replicate indefinitely due in part to the fact they have overactive telomerase, a protein that extends the telomeres. Until the link between cancer and telomeres is understood, telomere extension therapy will not be feasible.


What part of the chromosome might be involved with processes such as aging and cancer?

Telomere