Telomere Length Maintenance

**Semantic type:** Genetic Function

**Definition:** Telomeres in human cancer cells consist of a tandem array of telomeric DNA repeats bound to a specialized telomeric proteins. Telomeres allow cells to distinguish natural chromosome ends from damaged DNA. When telomere function is disrupted, a potentially lethal DNA damage response can ensue, DNA repair activities threaten the integrity of chromosome ends, and extensive genome instability can arise. Both telomerase and recombination can lengthen telomeres. (from PMID 11850780 and NCI)

**Synonyms:** - Length Maintenance