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New Telomerase RNA Discovery Prevents Species Extinction

10/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research in Japan identified a novel mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans that enables synthesis of the telomerase RNA terc-1 without a dedicated gene.
terc-1 is embedded in an intron of the nmy-2 gene, which is active in germ cells.
The study describes an intron hitchhiking strategy that ensures proper telomerase RNA production, maintaining telomeres and preventing species extinction.

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Story summary

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research in Japan identified a novel mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans that enables synthesis of the telomerase RNA terc-1 without a dedicated gene.
terc-1 is embedded in an intron of the nmy-2 gene, which is active in germ cells.
The study describes an intron hitchhiking strategy that ensures proper telomerase RNA production, maintaining telomeres and preventing species extinction.