A region of repeating DNA at the end of a chromosome that has a protective function
20
votes
3answers
270 views
Is telomere length a reliable measure of health/lifespan?
Several companies are commercializing tests for telomere length such as this one here. I understand the basic mechanism for why telomeres shorten during DNA replication, but how good is the evidence ...
13
votes
1answer
208 views
Do trees age on a microscopic level?
Most animals age via at least two mechinisms:
at a "macroscopic" level, basically wear and tear to the point where (on evolutionary time scales) it's more genetically advantageous to optimize for ...
11
votes
4answers
300 views
Why is the Hydra Biologically Immortal?
I have heard that the Hydra organism is biologically immortal (later I found that there are more immortal organisms). Now I know that its immortality is related to its telomerase. The thing is that we ...
7
votes
1answer
60 views
How does one measure the length of telomeres?
My questions are:
What techniques are available for doing so?
Are they destructive ?
What is their accuracy ?
5
votes
1answer
78 views
How are new people created from the DNA of an aged person. i.e. Why are we young?
The question "why do we age" has been asked numerous times. But why are we young? The cells of the adult human being are an age (time>0), but how can old cells create new cells that are younger than ...
5
votes
1answer
89 views
Where can I find the tissue-specific protein expression levels for hTERT (telomerase subunit)?
I find a number of contradictory sources regarding the tissues in which hTERT - the protein - is expressed. Does anybody know some resource that authoritatively (as authoritative or widely-accepted as ...
2
votes
1answer
163 views
What happens when cells in your body run out of telomeres?
In my biology book I read about an experiment where the genes encoding telomerase were 'knocked out', but they could still live a normal life and no adverse effects were noticed until the 6th ...
2
votes
0answers
54 views
Papers linking telomeres and aging [closed]
I'm currently writing a piece of work about telomeres and aging, and wondered if you could share some good papers you've either read or know of.
1
vote
0answers
33 views
Difference In Telomeres Between A Thale Cress Plant And A Methuselah Tree
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 ...
