Telomeres for the future

Written by Dr Jean-François Bezot and Dr Claude Dalle

Telomeres are the ends of the chromosomes in eukaryote cells (imagine the end of a shoelace). They are non-coding DNA for a specifi c piece of information, but they are involved in chromosome stability and in the tissue aging process. Learn more Learn more

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Behaviour of Telomere and TelomeraseduringAging and Regeneration.

Telomerelengthand telomeraseactivityare important factorsin the pathobiology of humandiseases. Age-relatedcliseasesand prematureaging syndromes are characterizedby short telomeres, whichcan compromise cellviability, whereastumeur cellscan preventtelomereloss by aberrantlyupregulatingtelomerase. Learn more

Telomeres, lifestyle, cancer, and aging

There has been growingevidencethatlifestyle factorsmay affect the health and lifespan of an individual by affectingtelomerelength. The purpose of thisreviewwas to highlight the importance of telomeres in humanhealth and aging and to summarize possible lifestyle factorsthatmayafl:ècthe.alth and longevity by altering the rate of telomereshortening. Learn more

Are Telomeres the Key to Aging and Cancer

lnside the nucleus of a cell, ourgenes are arrangedalongtwisted, double-strandedmolecules of DNA called chromosomes. At the ends of the chromosomes are stretches of DNA calledtelomeres, whichprotectourgenetic data, makeitpossible for cells to divide, and holdsome secrets to how weage and get cancer. Learn more

The 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinskalnstitutethas awarded the Nobel Prizein Physiology or Medicine 2009 jointlyto Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak for the discoveryof how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase. Learn more

Elizabeth Blackburn on the telomere effect.

The Nobel winner sayskeepingtelomeres- the ends of ourchromosomes – in prime condition can stave off diseasesassociatedwithageing. Learn more

Can Aging bedelayed Preventing Premature Aging

Telomeres are the caps or the end of eachstrand of DNA thatprotectour chromosomes, like the tips at the end of shoelaces. Without the coating, shoelacesbecomefrayeduntilthey can no longer do their job. Just aswithouttelomeres, DNA strandsbecomedamaged and ourcellscan’t do their jobs. Learn more