an enzyme found in cancer cells that protects or repairs the cells' telomeres, allowing the cells to reproduce indefinitely: used in medical research to extend the life of noncancerous cells
See telomerase in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(tə-lŏmˈə-rāsˌ, -rāzˌ)
noun
An enzyme that is found in the telomeres of chromosomes in germ cells, stem cells, and most cancer cells and that preserves the length of telomeres across cell divisions.