The impact of telomeres on ageing and chronic diseases

The shortening of telomeres (red) are a natural ageing process, which can be influenced by genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. — Wikimedia Commons

Similar to the plastic tips on shoelaces, telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, which maintain cellular health and genomic stability.

Comprised of repetitive DNA (dexoyribonucleic acid) sequences, they shorten each time the cell divides.