The DNA protein structures are found at both ends of each of your chromosomes, they protect genomes from nucleolytic degradation, unnecessary recombination, repair, and interchromosomal fusion. Telomeres play a vital role in preserving the information in our genome. As a normal cellular process, a small portion of telomeric DNA is lost with each cell division. When telomere length reaches a critical limit, the cell undergoes senescence and/or apoptosis. Telomere length may therefore serve as a biological clock to determine the lifespan of a cell and an organism. Certain agents associated with specific lifestyles may expedite telomere shortening by inducing damage to DNA in general or more specifically at telomeres and may be an effect on your health and lifespan of individuals.