Final answer:
Mariella Jaskelioff and her team engineered mice that expressed telomerase to study reversal of aging effects, also introducing cancer resistance. Their work demonstrated that telomerase reactivation could repair and rejuvenate tissues, offering potential applications in treating age-related human diseases and crafting targeted cancer therapies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The groundbreaking research on telomerase and its effects on aging and cancer has been a significant development in the field of regenerative medicine. Mariella Jaskelioff and her colleagues pioneered a study in which they created genetically engineered mice that not only expressed active telomerase but also carried genes making them resistant to cancer. Their research, which was published in the journal Nature in 2011, offered insights into how telomerase reactivation could reverse tissue degeneration in aged telomerase-deficient mice by extending telomeres, reducing DNA damage, reversing neurodegeneration, and improving the function of organs such as the testes, spleen, and intestines.
Additionally, the understanding that cancer cells often have active telomerase after their telomeres have been shortened has opened up avenues for developing cancer therapies. By potentially inhibiting telomerase action during therapy, it could be possible to prevent cancerous cells from further division, stopping tumor growth. The 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Elizabeth Blackburn, along with Carol Greider and Jack Szostak, for their discovery of how telomerase functions.