The "Timeless" gene has also been found to influence the development of disease in humans. Downregulation of the "timeless" gene in human carcinoma cells leads to shortened telomeres, indicating its role in telomere length maintenance. Telomere-associated DNA damage also increases in "timeless" depleted cells, along with the delay of telomere replication. Swi1 is a "timeless"-related protein that is required for DNA replication in the telomere region. This association between "timeless" and telomeres is indicative of the gene's possible association with cancer.