From what I have read and understood telomeres cap off how many times a cell can divide before it can no longer divide and that is what causes aging.
A thale cress plant apparently has a life cycle of 6 weeks before it dies, while the Methuselah tree has set the record at over 4,800+ years.
- What is the difference between these two plants regarding their telomeres?
- Is the cell division rate different between both plants instead of a telomeres difference?
- If given ideal conditions what could the potential life-span of a Methuselah tree be?
Btw you don't have to answer all these. Just curious and looking for some insight into why the stark difference between both plants' aging.
