telomere
noun
telo·mere ˈte-lə-ˌmir 
ˈtē-
ˈtē- : the natural end of a eukaryotic chromosome composed of a usually repetitive DNA sequence and serving to stabilize the chromosome
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Each time a cell divides to drive growth and repair, its telomeres shorten. 
Simon Makin, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2020 But extremely short and extremely long telomeres are seen as a predictor of cancer risk. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 11 Apr. 2019 Telocyte’s gene therapy would aim to rebuild those glial telomeres. Katherine Ellen Foley, Quartz, 14 Jan. 2020 A year in space caused DNA damage; gene expression changes; a thickening of the retina; thickening of Kelly's carotid artery; shifts in gut microbes; reduced cognitive abilities; and a structural change at the ends of chromosomes called telomeres. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Dec. 2019 The first deviation was the length of telomeres on Scott's DNA grew shorter than expected and his gene expression also changed. John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, 23 Oct. 2019 With every cell division, these protective telomeres grew shorter, hastening the plants’ inevitable genetic meltdown. Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2019 As cells age, their telomeres shorten, and chromosomes in turn stop the cell from dividing further, Chen says. Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2019 In a nutshell, telomeres are caps found at the ends of chromosomes that protect DNA. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, 1 Oct. 2019 See More
Simon Makin, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2020 But extremely short and extremely long telomeres are seen as a predictor of cancer risk. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 11 Apr. 2019 Telocyte’s gene therapy would aim to rebuild those glial telomeres. Katherine Ellen Foley, Quartz, 14 Jan. 2020 A year in space caused DNA damage; gene expression changes; a thickening of the retina; thickening of Kelly's carotid artery; shifts in gut microbes; reduced cognitive abilities; and a structural change at the ends of chromosomes called telomeres. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Dec. 2019 The first deviation was the length of telomeres on Scott's DNA grew shorter than expected and his gene expression also changed. John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, 23 Oct. 2019 With every cell division, these protective telomeres grew shorter, hastening the plants’ inevitable genetic meltdown. Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2019 As cells age, their telomeres shorten, and chromosomes in turn stop the cell from dividing further, Chen says. Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2019 In a nutshell, telomeres are caps found at the ends of chromosomes that protect DNA. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, 1 Oct. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary
First Known Use
1940, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
telomere
noun
telo·mere ˈtel-ə-ˌmi(ə)r ˈtēl-
ˈtēl- : the natural end of a eukaryotic chromosome composed of a usually repetitive DNA sequence and serving to stabilize the chromosome