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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Telomere Position Effect in Human Cells

Abstract

dc:description

Telomeres are tracts of repetitive DNA that cap the ends of linear chromosomes. Each time the chromosome is duplicated, a small amount of telomeric DNA is lost from the end due to factors inherent in the mechanism of DNA replication. The result is a net shortening of telomeres with each cell division, unless new repeats are synthesized through the action of the enzyme telomerase. Most human somatic cells lack telomerase activity and so continued cell division leads to telomere shortening. After a limited number of divisions (the "Hayflick limit"), it is believed that a few critically shortened telomeres trigger a state of growth arrest termed replicative senescence.

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Baur, Joseph Anthony
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Shay, Jerry W.

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
59226289
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:utswmed-ir.tdl.org:2152.5/459

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Base URL
utswmed-ir.tdl.org/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Baur, Joseph Anthony. Telomere Position Effect in Human Cells. 2010. https://hdl.handle.net/2152.5/459