UCSC Nobel Laureate discusses telomeres—from curiosity driven research to human disease

The community is invited to join UC Santa Cruz distinguished professor Carol W. Greider, Ph.D., and recipient of the 2009 Nobel Laureate in Medicine, as she shares her pioneering research on telomeres and how they influence disease.

In this important talk, Professor Greider discusses the latest breakthroughs and discoveries with diseases such as cancer – as well as the aging process - and how telomere maintenance mechanisms enable new approaches to understand these important scientific issues.

The event is open to the public, and you can register to attend here.

What are telomeres and what does it mean to us?

Telomeres are structures made of repetitive DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes. Every time a cell divides, telomeres shorten by a small amount. This shortening is counterbalanced by the enzyme telomerase, which elongates telomeres by adding repetitive DNA to maintain an equilibrium in length.

Increased telomere length enables the continuous proliferation of cancer cells, while telomere shortening is associated with aging and age-related diseases. Inherited telomere syndromes involving abnormally short telomeres can lead to bone marrow failure, lung disease, liver disease, and other conditions.

Dr. Carol Greider is an eminent biologist and advocate for diversity in science, and will enlighten the community about this important science and its impact on human life.