The Telomere

Telomeres, specialized structures found at the ends of linear chromosomes, are involved in a range of genetic phenomena ranging from novel biochemistry to a potential role in human ageing and cancer. This text introduces the concepts and central questions involved in the study of telomeres.

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Telomeres are specialised structures at ends of linear chromosomes. They are involved in a wide range of genetic phenomena ranging from novel biochemistry to a potential role in human ageing and cancer. This book covers a number of diverse subjects including: the role of telomeres in nuclear organisation; telomere DNA sequence and unusual structures formed by telomeric sequences in vitro; replication of telomere sequences by telomerase and how this relates
to various DNA sequence features; proteins that bind or interact with telomeres; the role of telomeres in programmed and spontaneous chromosome breakage; recent speculation on the relationship between telomere loss, aging and cancer; telomere position effects on replication and transcription; human telomere
structure, genome analysis and genetic disease.

This is the first book of its kind to cover this exciting and rapidly expanding field of molecular biology and genetics. It will provide an invaluable teaching tool, and introduction to the subject for newcomers to the field, and also act as an invaluable reference for established researchers.