Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...

Telomeres and Telomerase

Telomeres and Telomerase

In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.

Telomeres and Telomerase

Telomeres and Telomerase

In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.

Replication in Eukaryotes

Replication in Eukaryotes

In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is highly conserved and tightly regulated. Multiple linear chromosomes must be duplicated with high fidelity before cell division, so there are many proteins that fulfill specialized roles in the replication process. Replication occurs in three phases: initiation, elongation, and termination, and ends with two complete sets of chromosomes in the nucleus.
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...

Replication in Eukaryotes

Replication in Eukaryotes

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Spheroids and organoids to study long noncoding RNAs in cancer: how they could replace animal models.

Cancer metastasis reviews·2026

Same author

Telomere length dynamics do not predict subclinical atherosclerosis progression over a six-year period.

GeroScience·2026

Same author

Cross species activity of TERT human telomerase component.

Aging·2026

Same author

The multiomics blueprint of the individual with the most extreme lifespan.

Cell reports. Medicine·2025

Same author

Depletion of the TRF1 telomere-binding protein leads to leaner mice with altered metabolic profiles.

Aging·2025

Same author

Mice carrying the homologous human shelterin POT1-L259S mutation linked to pulmonary fibrosis show a telomerase deficiency-like phenotype with telomere shortening with increasing mouse generations.

Genes & development·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence

Published on: May 22, 2013

Aging by telomere loss can be reversed.

Bruno Bernardes de Jesus¹, Maria A Blasco

¹Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, Madrid E-28029, Spain.

|January 8, 2011

Summary

Reactivating telomerase reversed aging signs in mice with shortened telomeres. This study suggests that physiological aging, driven by molecular issues, might also be reversible.

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Telomere shortening is a hallmark of cellular aging.
Reactivating telomerase has shown potential in reversing aging phenotypes.
Previous studies focused on specific genetic models of aging.

Discussion:

This research investigates the broader implications of telomerase reactivation beyond specific genetic models.
It explores the potential reversibility of complex physiological aging.
The study considers aging as a multifactorial process involving various molecular defects.

Key Insights:

Telomerase reactivation can reverse multiple aging phenotypes in a mouse model.
Reversal of aging phenotypes was observed rapidly, within 4 weeks.

More Related Videos

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer

Published on: April 13, 2015

Monochrome Multiplex Quantitative PCR Telomere Length Measurement

Monochrome Multiplex Quantitative PCR Telomere Length Measurement

Published on: March 22, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence

Published on: May 22, 2013

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer

Published on: April 13, 2015

Monochrome Multiplex Quantitative PCR Telomere Length Measurement

Monochrome Multiplex Quantitative PCR Telomere Length Measurement

Published on: March 22, 2024

This provides evidence for the plasticity of the aging process.

Outlook:

Further research is needed to determine if physiological aging in other models is reversible.
Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying aging reversibility is crucial.
This work opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions targeting aging.