Q&A: Why do telomeres shorten when a cell divides, and how does it affect human aging?
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 t...
Image: Phys.org
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.
Originally published at Phys.org
