Structure and Function of Telomeres

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Resource Type

Level

High School — AP/IBCollege
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15 Users

Description

This tutorial describes the role of telomeres, the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, in DNA replication and cell division.

Telomeres play an important role in cells by protecting the ends of chromosomes during DNA replication. Scientists are interested in understanding how telomeres are maintained, because telomere shortening has been implicated in aging, and telomere lengthening in cancer. This Click & Learn discusses the structure and function of telomeres. It also describes a variety of proteins that bind to telomeric DNA, and how these proteins regulate the cellular machinery that maintains telomere length.

Estimated Time

One to two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

aging, cancer, cell division, chromosome, DNA replication, reverse transcriptase, senescence, telomerase, template, Tetrahymena

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Version History

Date Published

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1.A 

AP Biology (2019)

IST-1.E, IST-1.O, IST-4.A

IB Biology (2016)

2.6, 2.7, 7.1

Vision and Change (2009)

CC2

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