In 2009, Elizabeth Blackburn, Jack Szostak and Carol Greider were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering work that led to the discovery of telomeres and the enzyme complex telomerase responsible for maintaining its structure [1]. Over the past four decades, the classic view of telomeres protecting the natural ends of linear chromosomes and telomerase as telomere-terminal transferase necessary for the replication of chromosome ends has significantly evolved. Many diverse fields have matured, including the discovery of key molecular components of telomerase, implications for limits to cellular replication, and identification and characterisation of human genetic disorders that result in premature telomere shortening [2]. The association of shorter leukocyte telomere length and reduced survival in critical illness may prove crucial in our quest to improve outcomes http://bit.ly/2qDAZSq

中文翻译：

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大小事项！外周血白细胞端粒长度与危重病后存活率

2009 年，Elizabeth Blackburn、Jack Szostak 和 Carol Greider 因其开创性工作获得了诺贝尔生理学或医学奖，他们发现了端粒和负责维持其结构的酶复合端粒酶 [1]。在过去的四年中，端粒保护线性染色体的自然末端和端粒酶作为染色体末端复制所必需的端粒末端转移酶的经典观点得到了显着发展。许多不同的领域已经成熟，包括端粒酶关键分子成分的发现、对细胞复制限制的影响，以及导致端粒过早缩短的人类遗传疾病的鉴定和表征 [2]。