TERT encodes the telomerase reverse transcriptase, which is responsible for maintaining telomere ends by addition of (TTAGGG)n nucleotide repeats at the telomere.  Recent genome-wide association studies have found common genetic variants at theTERT-CLPTM1L locus (5p15.33) associated with an increased risk of several cancers. The gene discussed is TERT; the disease is cancer.