Telomeres and Telomerase in DNA Replication

Telomeres and telomerase help protect chromosomes during DNA replication. Telomeres are repeated DNA sequences at chromosome ends, and telomerase is the enzyme that can extend them. Together, they help keep important genetic information from being lost when cells divide.

Each time a chromosome is...

The telomere is the protective end of a chromosome, composed of repeating six nucleotide guanine-rich sequences, for example, TTAGGG in humans. 

Its length varies from organism to organism. In human chromosomes, there are approximately 1300 to 2500 telomere repeats present and around 8300 in mice.

When the DNA replication machinery...