telomerase
noun
tel·o·me·rase
te-ˈlō-mə-ˌrās 
-ˌrāz
: a DNA polymerase that is a ribonucleoprotein catalyzing the elongation of chromosomal telomeres in eukaryotic cell division and is particularly active in cancer cells
Examples of telomerase in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cells that regenerate safely: Bats keep the enzyme telomerase, for humans usually only found in stem, reproductive, and cancer cells, allowing their cells to keep dividing without degrading DNA, a feature that supports tissue repair.
—
Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2025
There’s also growing interest in how telomerase might be safely used to aid tissue regeneration, although that wasn’t tested in this study.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2025
Now, this requires stepping back to explain the importance of telomerase and telomeres and their relation to cancer growth.
—New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2024
However, the enzyme telomerase can rebuild telomeres to restore cell division.
—New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2024
However, most of our cells produce very little telomerase naturally.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
The plants did, however, ramp up their production of telomerase, the enzyme that helps maintain telomere length.
—Discover Magazine, 5 July 2024
Melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, is highly dependent on telomerase to grow, and three-quarters of all melanomas acquire mutations in telomerase.
—Jonathan Alder, The Conversation, 10 Nov. 2022
Even more interesting is the fact that TPP1 is known to activate telomerase.
—Jonathan Alder, The Conversation, 10 Nov. 2022
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Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2025
There’s also growing interest in how telomerase might be safely used to aid tissue regeneration, although that wasn’t tested in this study.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2025
Now, this requires stepping back to explain the importance of telomerase and telomeres and their relation to cancer growth.
—New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2024
However, the enzyme telomerase can rebuild telomeres to restore cell division.
—New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2024
However, most of our cells produce very little telomerase naturally.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
The plants did, however, ramp up their production of telomerase, the enzyme that helps maintain telomere length.
—Discover Magazine, 5 July 2024
Melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, is highly dependent on telomerase to grow, and three-quarters of all melanomas acquire mutations in telomerase.
—Jonathan Alder, The Conversation, 10 Nov. 2022
Even more interesting is the fact that TPP1 is known to activate telomerase.
—Jonathan Alder, The Conversation, 10 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Telomerase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telomerase. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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telomerase
noun
tel·o·me·rase
te-ˈlō-mə-ˌrās, -ˌrāz
: a DNA polymerase that is a ribonucleoprotein catalyzing the elongation of chromosomal telomeres in eukaryotic cell division and is particularly active in cancer cells
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