telomere

noun

telo·​mere ˈte-lə-ˌmir  ˈtē- 

: the natural end of a eukaryotic chromosome composed of a usually repetitive DNA sequence and serving to stabilize the chromosome

Examples of telomere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Telomere attrition: Shorter telomeres (DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome) are what cause visible aging signs like wrinkles and slower cell regeneration. —Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024

However, the enzyme telomerase can rebuild telomeres to restore cell division. —New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2024

Now, this requires stepping back to explain the importance of telomerase and telomeres and their relation to cancer growth. —New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2024

By tracking telomere length, the personalized language model could detect when telomeres start to shorten at a faster pace, indicating potential health issues. —Dr. Nimish G. Patel, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

telomere

noun

telo·​mere ˈtel-ə-ˌmi(ə)r  ˈtēl- 

: the natural end of a eukaryotic chromosome composed of a usually repetitive DNA sequence and serving to stabilize the chromosome

telomeric

ˌtel-ə-ˈmer-ik 

adjective