Definition of "telomere"

telomere

/ˈtɛləmɪɚ/

noun
plural telomeres
1. (genetics) Either of the sequences of DNA at each end of a eukaryotic chromosome.
  Quotations
  Chromosome ends or telomeres are composed of guanine-rich repeat sequences and associated proteins. A minimum number of repeats is essential for proper telomere function and to avoid sustained activation of DNA damage pathways that may result in replicative senescence or cell death.
  2004, Peter M. Lansdorp, 11: Telomeres and Telomere Regulation, Robert Paul Lanza (editor), Handbook of Stem Cells, Volume 2: Adult and Fetal Stem Cells, page 127
  It has been known for some time that when cells divide, causing chromosomes to duplicate, telomeres get shorter. The more a cell divides, then, the shorter the telomeres become.
  2005, Cara Birrittieri, What Every Woman Should Know about Fertility and Her Biological Clock‎, page 51
  Previous studies have examined telomere lengths as an indirect measure of aging in cloned animals. Sheep were reported to have shorter telomeres suggestive of premature aging while cattle had either age-appropriate or longer telomeres.
  2007, Peter Sutovsky, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer‎, page 78