What is one primary function of telomeric sequences?

Telomeric sequences play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of chromosome ends. They are repetitive nucleotide sequences located at the ends of linear chromosomes and serve primarily to prevent degradation of the DNA and to protect the chromosome ends from being recognized as damaged. This protection is crucial because, without telomeres, the ends of chromosomes would be subject to enzymatic degradation and might also fuse together, which could lead to chromosomal instability and cell malfunction.

The presence of telomeres ensures that each time a cell divides, the important genetic information is preserved, preventing the loss of coding sequences from the chromosome ends during replication. The structure of telomeres, often described as a protective cap, thus keeps the chromosome stable and intact.

This function is particularly important in cellular aging and cancer biology, where telomere shortening is associated with senescence, while the maintenance or elongation of telomeres is linked to uncontrolled cell proliferation in cancer cells.