Repetitive DNA sequences (TTAGGG in humans) capping the ends of chromosomes, protecting them from degradation and fusion during cell division. Each time a cell divides, telomeres shorten slightly because the replication machinery cannot fully copy chromosome ends. When telomeres reach a critical minimum length, the cell enters senescence (permanent growth arrest) or undergoes apoptosis.

Telomere length is associated with biological aging, though the relationship is correlational rather than simply causal. Telomerase—the enzyme that rebuilds telomeres—is active in stem cells and most cancer cells but largely inactive in normal adult somatic cells. Epithalon’s proposed mechanism involves telomerase activation, which is the central claim of interest and the central concern: reactivating telomerase in somatic cells could theoretically extend cellular lifespan but could also promote cancer growth. This tension defines the compound’s risk profile.