Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • BioInteractive Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us

Structure and Function of Telomeres

Start Interactive
Image from the interactive

Topic

  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • DNA & RNA

Resource Type

  • Interactive Media
  • Click & Learn

Level

High School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
15 Users
Share This

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 02.28.95

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

Explore Related Content

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Computer image of DNA
Animations
The Chemical Structure of DNA
Image of stacked blocks from the animation
Animations
Chargaff's Ratio
Diagram of a DNA sequence on a sheet of paper
Animations
Human Chromosomes
Photo from the video showing A, C, G, and T
Animations
Building Blocks of DNA
Computer image of transcription from the video
Animations
DNA Transcription (Advanced Detail)
Computer image of transcription from the video
Animations
DNA Transcription (Basic Detail)
Image of RNA folding from the video
Animations
RNA Folding
Computer image of different types of RNA
Click & Learn
RNA Diversity
Computer image of DNA unwound
Animations
Paired DNA Strands
Schematic image of DNA replicating from the video
Animations
DNA Replication (Schematic)
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility