The role of telomeres and telomerase in stem cell aging.

Stem cells regenerate our bodies. In a similar manner to match ignition, stem cell "ignition" has to be precisely tuned to avoid uncontrolled proliferation as may occur in tumors or, inversely, the lack of proliferation as happens in degenerative disorders. During the last years it has become evident that telomeres and telomerase are main components of the stem cell "ignition" mechanism, providing a way to restrain cancer and delay aging. Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V.