Comments on: ASAP Science video: The Science of Aging http://boingboing.net/2013/03/08/asap-science-video-the-scienc.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 20:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Alex Hoekstra http://boingboing.net/2013/03/08/asap-science-video-the-scienc.html#comment-1675134 Alex Hoekstra Sat, 09 Mar 2013 20:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=217524#comment-1675134 Nope.  Telomere length of the parents at the time of conception doesn't appear to impact the initial telomere length of the offspring, BUT the parents' initial telomere lengths appear to be significantly hereditary[1].  This, however, doesn't mean that the lifespan of offspring will be directly comparable to the lifespan of the parents because even if they all begin with the same telomere length, individual RATES of telomere shortening vary (based on an array of factors including genetics, epigenetics, environments [including diet, exercise, lifestyle, vitamins/supplements] and experience [including stress, exposures, infections, medications...] and probably lots of other stuff as well.[2, 3, 4, 5] [1: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2987222/] [2: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20085953] [3: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19269917?dopt=Abstract] [4: http://cel.webofknowledge.com/InboundService.do?SID=1Banm5NFgJg6llCLi%40D&product=CEL&UT=000284218300008&SrcApp=Highwire&Init=Yes&action=retrieve&Func=Frame&customersID=Highwire&SrcAuth=Highwire&IsProductCode=Yes&mode=FullRecord] [5: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1474-9726.2007.00340.x/abstract;jsessionid=EC635F6113D8006BB419CA6E9A586C40.d03t02] And many more: http://www.telome.com/telomeres.php Nope.  Telomere length of the parents at the time of conception doesn’t appear to impact the initial telomere length of the offspring, BUT the parents’ initial telomere lengths appear to be significantly hereditary[1].  This, however, doesn’t mean that the lifespan of offspring will be directly comparable to the lifespan of the parents because even if they all begin with the same telomere length, individual RATES of telomere shortening vary (based on an array of factors including genetics, epigenetics, environments [including diet, exercise, lifestyle, vitamins/supplements] and experience [including stress, exposures, infections, medications...] and probably lots of other stuff as well.[2, 3, 4, 5]

[1: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2987222/]
[2: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20085953]
[3: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19269917?dopt=Abstract]
[4: http://cel.webofknowledge.com/InboundService.do?SID=1Banm5NFgJg6llCLi%40D&product=CEL&UT=000284218300008&SrcApp=Highwire&Init=Yes&action=retrieve&Func=Frame&customersID=Highwire&SrcAuth=Highwire&IsProductCode=Yes&mode=FullRecord]
[5: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1474-9726.2007.00340.x/abstract;jsessionid=EC635F6113D8006BB419CA6E9A586C40.d03t02]
And many more: http://www.telome.com/telomeres.php

]]> By: Alex Hoekstra http://boingboing.net/2013/03/08/asap-science-video-the-scienc.html#comment-1675123 Alex Hoekstra Sat, 09 Mar 2013 20:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=217524#comment-1675123 The relationship between telomere length and senescence is fairly well-established [1, 2, 3], and there's growing evidence suggesting relationships between telomere length and degenerating health, even in organisms in relatively early to mid development [4, 5]. [1: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23454763][2: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23387887] [3: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11582772] [4: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v469/n7328/full/nature09603.html] [5: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22965356] And lots more: http://www.telome.com/telomeres.php The relationship between telomere length and senescence is fairly well-established [1, 2, 3], and there’s growing evidence suggesting relationships between telomere length and degenerating health, even in organisms in relatively early to mid development [4, 5].
[1: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23454763][2: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23387887]
[3: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11582772]
[4: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v469/n7328/full/nature09603.html]
[5: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22965356]
And lots more: http://www.telome.com/telomeres.php

]]> By: schmaltastic http://boingboing.net/2013/03/08/asap-science-video-the-scienc.html#comment-1674660 schmaltastic Sat, 09 Mar 2013 05:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=217524#comment-1674660 The telomere hypothesis is just one of many theories of aging. Most of the cells in our bodies are post-mitotic, so they don't divide after development is over, and therefore don't suffer from shortened telomeres. And yet these non-dividing tissues (like the brain) show various signs of aging long after the cells have stopped dividing.  Several single-gene mutations in model organisms (flies, nematodes) can extend lifespan by a factor of two or more without telomere effects. In nematodes, all of the cells in the adult are post-mitotic (they don't even have stem cells), so telomere effects can't explain mutations that alter adult lifespan.The fact is we have no idea why nearly all organisms have limited lifespans. Many hypotheses exist, few of which rise to the level of theories.  This would have been a great video on the telomere hypothesis if it didn't go on to imply that this is the known underlying mechanism.  Its not even one of the most prevalent hypotheses. The telomere hypothesis is just one of many theories of aging. Most of the cells in our bodies are post-mitotic, so they don’t divide after development is over, and therefore don’t suffer from shortened telomeres. And yet these non-dividing tissues (like the brain) show various signs of aging long after the cells have stopped dividing.  Several single-gene mutations in model organisms (flies, nematodes) can extend lifespan by a factor of two or more without telomere effects. In nematodes, all of the cells in the adult are post-mitotic (they don’t even have stem cells), so telomere effects can’t explain mutations that alter adult lifespan.The fact is we have no idea why nearly all organisms have limited lifespans. Many hypotheses exist, few of which rise to the level of theories.  This would have been a great video on the telomere hypothesis if it didn’t go on to imply that this is the known underlying mechanism.  Its not even one of the most prevalent hypotheses.

]]> By: Spinkter http://boingboing.net/2013/03/08/asap-science-video-the-scienc.html#comment-1674526 Spinkter Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=217524#comment-1674526 Your flimsy facts are nothing compared to my bastion of denial.  In the immortal words of Gary Johnston: "I will never die". Your flimsy facts are nothing compared to my bastion of denial.  In the immortal words of Gary Johnston: “I will never die”.

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2013/03/08/asap-science-video-the-scienc.html#comment-1674500 millie fink Fri, 08 Mar 2013 23:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=217524#comment-1674500 I'm thinking no. I’m thinking no.

]]> By: JohnQPublic http://boingboing.net/2013/03/08/asap-science-video-the-scienc.html#comment-1674244 JohnQPublic Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=217524#comment-1674244 hey so if telomere length is inherited, does this mean that children who have older fathers at conception get shorter life-expectancy (due to older father's shorter telomere) relative to younger fathers?   hey so if telomere length is inherited, does this mean that children who have older fathers at conception get shorter life-expectancy (due to older father’s shorter telomere) relative to younger fathers?  

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/08/asap-science-video-the-scienc.html#comment-1674236 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=217524#comment-1674236 Why do we age? Because lazy wolves get hungry too. Why do we age? Because lazy wolves get hungry too.

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