Telomere

Repetitive nucleotide sequences (TTAGGG in humans) capping the ends of chromosomes, protecting them from degradation and end-to-end fusion. Telomeres shorten by approximately 30–200 base pairs with each cell division, serving as a molecular clock of cellular aging. Telomere length is considered a biomarker of biological age. Epithalon research in animals has reported telomere elongation effects.