Telomeres play an important role in protecting the ends of chromosomes and preventing
chromosome fusion. We have previously demonstrated that double-strand breaks near
telomeres in mammalian cells result in either the addition of a new telomere at the site of the
break, termed chromosome healing, or sister chromatid fusion that initiates chromosome
instability. In the present study, we have investigated the role of telomerase in chromosome
healing and the importance of chromosome healing in preventing chromosome instability. In …