Telomeres and ageing
Ageing is a natural process and it is relevant in both scientific and social aspects of life; understanding why and how ageing occurs is vital to gaining a greater insight into how organisms work. Looking at telomeres is one of the main ways to learn about ageing.
What are telomeres?
DNA is arranged into chromosomes which are found in the nucleus of all eukaryotic cells. The genes that are found on chromosomes code for proteins that are essential for organisms to survive, for example enzymes needed for metabolic processes such as respiration.
Telomeres are repeated sequences of bases at the ends of DNA strands (1) and are like the ends of shoelaces ‘because they keep chromosome ends from fraying and sticking to each other’
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Bones become more visible as fewer fat cells are regenerated; and skin becomes more wrinkled due to thinning and loss of elasticity (5). When the telomeres get too short and reach a ‘critical length’ the chromosomes can no longer be replicated without the important DNA becoming damaged; therefore a signal is released into the cell to stop further divisions and the cell dies by apoptosis (3). As fewer cells are available to reproduce, it becomes difficult to defend and maintain the body.
Manipulation of telomerase
Telomeres could be seen as “anti-ageing” because they continue cell division so slow the ageing process. Theoretically telomerase could be used to combat somatic cell degradation, for example “anti-ageing” creams could be developed containing the enzyme in order to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Such products are at the moment neither widespread nor affordable; however there is a product called TA-65® (pictured right) that claims to “help maintain or rebuild telomeres” made by T.A. Sciences® (6), which shows that this area of DNA manipulation is being researched for cosmetic reasons.
Another potential use of telomerase is to mass produce cells for transplantation, for example to cure burns and diabetes. At the moment, however, the medical relevance of telomeres is still uncertain
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(n.d.) Are Telomeres The Key To Aging And Cancer? [Online] Available from: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/chromosomes/telomeres/ [Accessed 14/10/15]
(3) YOUR GENETICS. (2014) What is a telomere? [Online] Available from: http://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-a-telomere [Accessed 14/10/15]
(4) SCIENCE STUDENT CENTER. (n.d.) Chapter 14: DNA: The Genetic Material: Telomerase Function [Online] Available from: http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/9834092339/student_view0/chapter14/telomerase_function.html [Accessed 14/10/15]
(5) SCIENCE MUSEUM. (n.d.) Who am I? [Online] Available from: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/WhoAmI/FindOutMore/Yourbody/Whatisageing/Whathappensasyouage.aspx [Accessed 14/10/15]
(6) T.A. SCIENCES. (n.d.) What is TA-65®? [Online] Available from: https://www.tasciences.com/what-is-ta-65/ [Accessed 14/10/15]
(7) DISPENZA, DR J. (n.d.) Telomeres: What Does a Lobster Know That You Don’t Know? [Online] Available from: http://www.drjoedispenza.com/blog/general/telomeres-what-does-a-lobster-know-that-you-dont-know/ [Accessed 14/10/15]
(8) WIKIPEDIA. (Last modified 13/10/15) Ageing [Online] Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageing [Accessed
What scientists have found out is that it is very difficult to keep human cells in the lab for a long amount of time and days. When it is removed from the human body, most of it will die immediately or reproduce a limited amount of cancerous cells from a 31 year old woman named Henrietta Lacks who cells never died. An author tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman who was diagnosed
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Aging, like death, is an irreversible process and it might be the essential reason why immortal life is so irresistible to the human beings. Already in the ancient times, wealthy people tried to slow down the process of turning older. In Greece, they did sports, athletics and they followed the advice of Hippocrates, who recommended taking life moderately to make sure living a long and healthy life. In Rome olive oil, beeswax and several baths were seen as a way of remaining young. In the middle Ages and Renaissance, the ancient lessons were combined with naturopathic methods.
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Aging is a journey one which leads to really find and become comfortable with our true selves. As I age and as I watch my grandmother age, I have realized that time has a way of changing people. What think was impossible to conquer becomes possible over time. The material possessions that we once value just become small things. What matters the most is family and our faith.
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Therefore, in order to determine the next steps in implementing this therapy in the developed world, its costs and returns must be carefully evaluated. Through the critical evaluation of this therapy in terms of its future projections, in context of its scientific, ethical, and economic implications, it is our proposition to further fund this line of biomedical research, as well as to reallocate funds from other lines of research to this treatment. It is also proposed that corporations in support of different interests invest into this therapy, in order to ensure its ethical research and development. This would accelerate the widespread implementation of telomerase gene therapy, and ultimately provide a stepping stone towards a healthy and economically-prosperous
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(n.d.). Retrieved from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/hydrochloric_acid#section=Top Indigestion - Causes - NHS Choices. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Indigestion/Pages/Causes.aspx Indigestion - Causes and Symptoms | Rennie. (n.d.).
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