2 ms·
Telomeres exist to prevent out of control cell reproduction, ie cancer. Turn them off and you get a very high cancer rate. That's not to say we can't end aging
by aneth4 14y ago
Telomeres exist to prevent out of control cell reproduction, ie cancer. Turn them off and you get a very high cancer rate.
That's not to say we can't end aging by extending them, but it's not that simple.
- stcredzero 14y ago> Turn them off and you get a very high cancer rate. Or rather, enable telomere repair mechanisms, and you get a higher cancer rate. One of the things cancers must do in order to keep existing is to activate teleomerase or the alt telomere repair mechanism.