Overview Structure regions of DNA at the ends of chromosomes that are non-coding and repetitive added by telomerase enzyme Function protect ends of DNA from degradation rapidly dividing cells are more sensitive to telomere function Clinical relevance each round of replication shortens the telomere because DNA polymerase requires an RNA template and lagging strand cannot replicate all the way to the end of the chromosome telomere shortening is implicated in cell senescence cancer cell often have ↑ telomerase activity makes unlimited replication potential possible