Telomeres play a critical role in maintaining genetic stability. In normal cells, telomeres shorten with each cell division, eventually leading to cellular senescence or apoptosis when they become too short. However, in cancer cells, mechanisms such as the activation of telomerase, an enzyme that extends telomeres, allow these cells to maintain their telomere length and bypass the normal limit on cell divisions. This enables uncontrolled cell proliferation, a hallmark of cancer.
