Glossary

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Telomerase genes: Genes that encode the enzyme telomerase, a protein that adds DNA sequence repeats to the ends of chromosomes (called telomeres). Repeated sequences help protect a chromosome’s structural integrity.

Transcription: The process by which the information stored in the genes of DNA is copied to RNA.

Transgenic: Describing an organism into which a gene or genes from another organism’s cells have been introduced through a laboratory process. For example, transgenic mice that carry mutated human genes are useful for studying diseases, since the effects of the gene mutations can be observed in the mice.

Translation: The process by which the information carried in RNA is decoded to make proteins.