Futurity.org » telomeres

DNA cap length tied to diabetes

Dennis O'Shea-JHU — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:00:46 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — Short telomeres—the end caps on repetitive sequences of DNA—may be a precursor of age-related diabetes, affecting as many as one in four adults older than 60.

As telomeres shorten, cells lose the ability to divide normally and eventually they die. Telomere shortening has been linked to cancer, lung disease, and other age-related illnesses.

Meditate to improve cell health

Andy Fell-UC Davis — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:29:08 +0000

UC DAVIS (US) — Positive psychological changes that occur during meditation training increase activity of telomerase, an enzyme important for the long-term health of cells in the body.

The effect appears to be attributable to psychological changes that increase a person’s ability to cope with stress and maintain feelings of well-being, according to a new study.

Measuring DNA identifies hardiest embryos

Peter Dunn-Warwick — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:27:58 +0000

U. WARWICK (UK)—Scientists have for the first time directly measured a specific region of DNA in human embryos that could be used as a quality marker for embryonic development.

Researchers measured telomeres, regions of repetitive DNA at the ends of a chromosome which protect it from deterioration. Telomeres shorten each time a cell divides and when telomere length becomes critically short, the cells die.

Chromosome caps no match for UV

Bill Hathaway-Yale — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 02:16:44 +0000

Telomeres—the repeat sequences of DNA at the end of chromosomes that act like plastic tips at the end of a shoelace—are much more likely to be damaged by UV radiation than are other common cellular structures. “This damage is not repaired. It is as if the cell has decided to defer maintenance to the telomeres,” says Douglas Brash, senior author of the study.

YALE (US)—The molecular caps at the ends of chromosomes that protect humans against cancer and premature cellular aging show a surprising inability to protect themselves against ultraviolet radiation, according to a new study.

Genetic variants linked to human aging

Kate Moore-King's College London — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:01:37 +0000

Tim Spector, a professor at King’s College London, who co-led the project explains that the variants identified are near a gene called TERC, “which is already known to play an important role in maintaining telomere length. What our study suggests is that some people are genetically programmed to age at a faster rate. The effect was quite considerable in those with the variant, equivalent to between three to four years of ‘biological aging’.

KING’S COLLEGE LONDON (UK)—After analyzing more than 500,000 genetic variations across the entire human genome, a research team has identified definitive variants associated with biological aging in humans.

The variants are located near a gene called TERC. Scientists from King’s College London and the University of Leicester reported their findings Feb. 7 in Nature Genetics.

Childhood abuse may lead to early aging

Mark Hollmer-Brown — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:34:27 +0000

Researchers have determined that children who suffer physical or emotional abuse may be faced with accelerated cellular aging as adults with an accelerated reduction in the size of telomeres, the “caps” on the end of chromosomes that promote cellular stability. Telomeres typically shorten with age. Above, human chromosomes (grey) capped by telomeres (white). (Courtesy: U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program)

BROWN (US)—Children who suffer physical or emotional abuse may be at greater risk of developing a variety of aging-related medical conditions as adults, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

A new study by researchers at Brown University and Butler Hospital shows that adults who report having been abused as children showed an accelerated reduction in the size of telomeres, the “caps” on the end of chromosomes that promote cellular stability. Telomeres typically shorten with age.