Understanding the workings of the chromosome caps, which protect our genome, will give scientists insights on aging, cancer and infertility
In each cell of your body, DNA is stored in structures called chromosomes. When cells divide, these chromosomes are copied, but over time, the copying process degrades. After many cycles of making copies, the ends of the chromosomes become shorter and can sometimes get damaged. Thankfully, we have telomeres, which are like protective caps on the ends of our chromosomes that help to decrease the damage when cells divide.
Think of your DNA as important paperwork that you need to keep copying for work and the telomeres as the paper folders that you keep the copies in to protect them from damage. However, over years of opening and closing and moving the folders around your office, the edges of the folders get beat up and ragged, eventually not protecting the copies of paperwork inside them very well. This is exactly what happens to telomeres!
