Research on telomeres has recently surged forward. Telomeres have been found to shorten in neoplastic and aging cells, and their analysis has been stimulated by the molecular cloning of key components in telomere metabolism. This is therefore a timely book, a comprehensive account of telomere structure and function in a variety of organisms including yeast, Drosophila, ciliates, plants and mammals. Starting with a historical overview, it covers telomere structure, dynamics, localization, transcriptional silencing, as well as the significance of length regulation and the roles of telomeres. Written and edited by members of leading laboratories worldwide, this book will have lasting value for investigators of cancer and aging as well as those with interests in replication, ribonuclear particles, chromosome dynamics and polymerases.