Telomeres and longevity
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: While the basic elements of telomere biology are very similar across many taxa [1], there is diversity among species, and among tissues, in telomere dynamics. Not surprisingly, given that species differ in many other relevant aspects of their biology, including the pattern of activity of the telomere-restoring enzyme telomerase simple comparisons of average telomere length across species do not map directly onto interspecific variation in maximum lifespan [2-4]. In relatively long-lived species, telomerase is downregulated in most somatic cells, thought to have evolved as a mechanism to counteract an increased risk of tumour formation, particularly in endotherms [1]. One potential cost of this is that tissue renewal capacity is limited, resulting in somatic deterioration with age. However, within a given
Source: Aging
Author: Pat Monaghan
Institution: University of Glasgow
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2164889571