Blackburn and Ms.Greider discovered the substance in the body that builds telomeres.The scientists named the enzyme telomerase. 后来布莱克本和格雷德发现了人体中用来构筑端粒的物质，并将之命名为端粒酶。
Several companies, including Geron, have started testing drugs that gum up the telomerase enzyme, so that it can't extend the lives of cancer cells. 包括杰龙公司在内的几家公司已开始进行抑制端粒酶酵素的药物试验，使之不能延长癌细胞的生命。
