Biology of Aging by National Institute of Aging - HTML preview

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What happens when DNA

occurs when a cell divides and passes its

genetic information on to its two daughter

becomes damaged?

cells. During cell division, the telomere, a

stretch of DNA at each end of a chromosome

The impact of age, of course, is not limited

that doesn’t encode any proteins but instead

to organisms. You drive a brand new car

protects the protein-encoding part of the

off the lot, and ideally it’s in perfect work-

DNA, becomes shorter. When the telomere

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GENETICS