Telomeres are specialized DNA-protein complex at ends of linear chromosomes.
They are essential for proper maintenace of chromosomes, and may play a role in aging and cancer. Telomerases are specialized reverse transcriptases that are involved in synthesis of telomeres in most organisms. They are very interesting DNA polymerases in that they carry RNA template within them. In this page I will try to collect general information and internet resources that are useful in understanding telomere biology. In most organisms studied, telomere DNA sequences are tandem array of simple G- rich repeat on the strand running from centromere to telomere.