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Telomeres and Telomerase: From Basic Science to Disease

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Carol Greider, Ph.D.

Carol Greider, Ph.D.

Professor of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
University of California, Santa Cruz
Recipient of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Elected Member of the National Academy of Sciences

Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture:  Telomeres and Telomerase: From Basic Science to Disease

Date: February 24, 2022

Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

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About this Seminar

Telomeres are the structures at the end of chromosomes, made of repetitive DNA, that protect chromosomes ends. Every time a cell divides, telomeres shorten by a small amount. This shortening is counter-balanced by the enzyme telomerase. Telomeres are thus maintained at about an equilibrium length. If telomere length is not properly maintained, they become too short and cause cell death. Problems with telomere length maintenance are associated with human disease including both cancer and age-related degenerative disease. Cancer cells increased telomere length to allow for continuous growth; conversely a failure to maintain telomeres in adult stem cells causes loss of tissue renewal. Short telomeres cause inherited Telomere Syndromes in humans, a group of age related degenerative diseases.

Additional Details

This is a free event hosted by Dr. Michael Friedlander and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. For more information, please call 540-526-2059.

About Maury Strauss

Maury Strauss is a longtime community benefactor and businessman who supports biomedical research with the goal of energizing the local economy and improving quality of life in our neighborhoods and around the world. In order to ensure the continued success of Roanoke’s biomedical research enterprise, as well as the free public seminars, Mr. Strauss has made a generous gift to the series. Read VT News Story

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