Telomeres, Aging and Cancer Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a telomere

A

Repeating sequence of DNA at the end of a chromosome that protects coding regions from being lost during replication

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2
Q

What is telomerase

A
  • Enzyme that lengthens telomeres
  • Found in high amounts in germ-line cells, stem cells and certain white blood cells
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3
Q

Telomere Functions

A
  • Prevents chromosomes from fusing to each other
  • Prevent DNA degradation
  • Assist DNA repairing process
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4
Q

What is Cell Senescence?

A

Cellular aging

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5
Q

What is the Hayflick limit?

A
  • Biological clocks counting down the total number of times a cell can divide
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6
Q

What is the human Hayflick limit?

A
  • Allows about 50 replications before telomeres become too short
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7
Q

Telomeres and Aging

A
  • Healthy lifestyle and exercising is linked to longer telomere lengths
  • Even though shortened telomeres are not directly linked to aging
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8
Q

Telomeres and Cancer

A
  • Cancer cells produce telomerase in high quantities
  • Cancer cells continue to divide because of telomerase activity
  • So scientists question the benefit of having active telomerase within cells
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