Telomerase And Cancer

Telomerase are key to cancer cells not dying so effort is being put into stopping cancer cells from using telomerase to extend their life.

Telomeres are caps of junk DNA on the ends of chromosomes that protect the genetic information of chromosomes. Each time a cell divides the chromosomes lose small pieces of their ends.

Without the junk DNA pieces of the genetic information of the cells would be lost, the genetic information would become corrupted, and the cells would die.

Telomeres serve to protect the cell’s genetic information, but they shorten during each cell division which limits the life of the cell.

Telomerase is an enzyme that is able to add back length to the telomeres, but the body does this with cells of the body on a limited basis.

Cancer cells are able to use telomerase extensively which is why cancer cells are able to keep multiplying without dying.

Science is being used to analyze how to stop cancer cells from using telomerase.