ScienceAugust 8, 2026
telomere
TEL-uh-meer
Definition
A repetitive DNA sequence found at the ends of a chromosome that protects the genetic material from degradation and fusion with other chromosomes.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Greek words 'telos' (end) and 'meros' (part). It was coined in the late 19th century to describe the terminal structures of chromosomes.
In the news
The article discusses a 'telomere-to-telomere' assembly, meaning researchers successfully mapped the entire sequence of the rat's chromosomes from one protective end to the other for the first time.
Telomere-to-telomere brown rat genome could sharpen disease research models
Read the full article ↗medicalxpress.com