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1. Telomeres
• DNA is replicated (copied) during the S phase of the cell cycle. If part
of the DNA is not copied, that piece of information is lost. the loss of
vital genes would result in cell death.
• The main function of telomeres is therefore to prevent the loss of
genes during cell division and to allow continued replication of a cell.
Telomeres are found at the ends of chromosomes

2. Telomeres
• Telomere is repetitive sequence of
DNA at the end of a chromosome that
protects genes from the chromosome
shortening that happens at each cell
division. They have no useful
information, but allow the copying
enzyme to complete copying all the
meaningful DNA
• With each division, their telomeres get
a little shorter until the vital DNA is no
longer protected and the cell dies. This
could be one of the mechanisms of
ageing, by which humans grow old and
die.