Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. They are composed of repeating DNA sequences and associated proteins. Each time a cell divides, a small section of these telomeric sequences is typically lost. Telomere length is therefore considered a proxy for cellular age, differentiating it from chronological age. Critical shortening of telomeres can impair cellular function. The measurement of telomere length provides insight into cellular integrity at a molecular level.
Telomere length
Cellular biological age.