A ribonucleoprotein enzyme that extends telomeres in stem and cancer cells using an RNA template.
Telomerase (TERT protein plus TERC RNA) adds TTAGGG repeats using its internal RNA template, offsetting shortening. It is active in germ cells, stem cells and most cancers but silent in most somatic cells.
Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak got the Nobel Prize in 2009.
A ribonucleoprotein enzyme that extends telomeres in stem and cancer cells using an RNA template.
Telomerase is one of the 52 topics in Molecular Biology. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism, Reverse Transcription, Lac Operon.
Some cancers use ALT, a recombination-based alternative.
Work through the Beginner topics in Molecular Biology first, such as Central Dogma, DNA Replication, Base Pairing, then return to Telomerase. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
The closest topics to Telomerase are CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism, Reverse Transcription, Lac Operon, Alternative Splicing. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Telomerase. To practise the whole of Molecular Biology, use the Molecular Biology quiz.
Telomerase: A ribonucleoprotein enzyme that extends telomeres in stem and cancer cells using an RNA template. CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism: A guide RNA directs the Cas9 nuclease to a matching DNA site to cut it, enabling precise editing. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Molecular Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
A guide RNA directs the Cas9 nuclease to a matching DNA site to cut it, enabling precise editing.
🧫 Molecular BiologySynthesis of DNA from an RNA template by reverse transcriptase, used by retroviruses and retrotransposons.
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🧫 Molecular BiologyDifferent exon combinations from one gene yield several protein variants.
🧫 Molecular Biology