Research identifies potential role of 'junk DNA' sequence in aging, cancer

(Washington State University) Researchers at Washington State University have recently identified a DNA region known as VNTR2-1 that appears to drive the activity of the telomerase gene, which has been shown to prevent aging in certain types of cells. Knowing how the telomerase gene is regulated and activated and why it is only active in certain cell types could someday be the key to understanding how humans age and how to stop the spread of cancer.
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news