Telomeres | Community Health

Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences at the ends of linear chromosomes, crucial for maintaining genome stability and preventing DNA degradation. They are a key feature of eukaryotic cells, found in most species, including humans. Telomeres play a vital role in protecting the terminal regions of chromosomal DNA and ensuring the integrity of linear chromosomes. Research on telomeres has been conducted by scientists such as [[elizabeth-blackburn|Elizabeth Blackburn]], [[carol-greider|Carol Greider]], and [[jack-szostak|Jack Szostak]], who were awarded the [[nobel-prize-in-physiology-or-medicine|Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] in 2009 for their discovery of telomeres and telomerase.