Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes that act as protective caps to maintain chromosome stability and prevent degradation. Telomerase is an enzyme that helps maintain telomere length by adding telomere repeat sequences to the ends of chromosomes. In normal cells, telomerase is not expressed or is expressed at low levels, leading to telomere shortening with each cell division. When telomeres become critically short, cells enter a state of replicative senescence or undergo apoptosis to prevent the propagation of damaged or abnormal cells.
Cancer cells, on the other hand, have a unique ability to maintain telomere l....
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