Each time a cell replicates itself (as it does before it dies), the telomeres shorten, like plastic tips fraying on the end of shoelaces.

细胞每复制自己一次(细胞在死亡之前都会如此)，其端粒就会缩短，就像鞋带的塑料头会磨损一样。

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Telomerase is known to protect telomeres which stop the string of DNA unravelling much like the plastic tips at the ends of shoelaces stop fraying.

正如人们所了解的，端粒酶因其能够保护端粒，从而阻止DNA链的分离，就像鞋带末端的塑料能防止其受到磨损。

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When these were injected into yeast, the DNA sequence protected the chromosomes when they were copied, just as the plastic tips at the ends of shoelaces stop them from fraying.

当这些微型染色体注入到酵母细胞中后，在细胞分裂时，这种CCCCAA的DNA序列在复制时对染色体起到了保护作用，就像鞋带末端的塑料帽对鞋带起到的防磨损作用。

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Elizabeth Blackburn compares them to the plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces.

VOA: special.2009.10.07

Telomeres protect the chromosomes, much like the plastic tips on shoelaces keep lace from fraying.

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Most are simple designs, essentially a pen with a rubber tip that mimics the conductive property and shape of a fingertip. (Steer clear of styluses with fine, hard plastic tips, which are designed for older gadgets like the PalmPilot and won't work with today's touch screens).

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Dr Karp's patch mimics this action using minute needles made of plastic with tips that are rigid when dry but swell once they have pierced wet tissue.

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