Speaker: Walter Crinnion. Cellular reproduction can continue indefinitely if telomere maintenance by telomerase remains functional. However, both the collection of birthdays and lifestyle stressors combine to deactivate telomerase. When telomerase becomes inactive, cell reproduction stops and the body begins to experience the functional decline most commonly associated with aging. This talk will review telomeres and telomerase function, as well as the factors that cause telomerase to become inactive and the botanical agents that wake it up.