An enzyme that adds repetitive DNA sequences to the ends of chromosomes (telomeres), preventing chromosome shortening during cell division. Telomerase activity is high in stem cells and cancer cells but low in most adult cells.
From 'telomere' (Greek 'telos' meaning 'end' and 'meros' meaning 'part') combined with the enzyme suffix '-ase.' Discovered in the 1980s by Elizabeth Blackburn and colleagues, leading to a Nobel Prize for understanding chromosome protection.
Telomerase is like the cellular fountain of youth - it prevents chromosomes from getting shorter with each cell division! Most of our cells lose telomerase as we age, which may contribute to aging, but cancer cells reactivate it to become immortal - a double-edged sword.
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