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Telomere Maintenance

Meaning

The biological process that ensures the preservation of telomeres, the protective caps of repetitive DNA sequences and associated proteins found at the ends of linear chromosomes. Effective telomere maintenance prevents the progressive shortening of these caps with each cell division, a key driver of cellular senescence and biological aging. This process is primarily mediated by the enzyme telomerase, which adds new repetitive sequences to the telomere ends. Strategies to optimize telomere maintenance are central to longevity science and the pursuit of extended healthspan.