The Black Swordsman
Well-Known Member
It is junk DNA but the reason we age is our telomeres are shrinking. If our telomeres never shrink we would never die from getting old. It would be the first thing I want to know about my DNA.
I had my genome sequenced!
- Thread starter Siro
- Start date
It is junk DNA but the reason we age is our telomeres are shrinking. If our telomeres never shrink we would never die from getting old. It would be the first thing I want to know about my DNA.
That's not entirely true. Telemere shortening does eventually cause the DNA to be exposed and breakdown. But death is very complex and multi-faceted. Even if you eliminate all the usual suspects like telomeres, oxidation, and metabolic stress, you'd still die thru other mechanisms. It's been a couple of years since I've seriously read on the subject, but I remember there was 7 major mechanisms that result in the eventual death of the organism.
Either way, this was just an exome sequence. Telomeres weren't touched.
Zulu
Well-Known Member
I sure hope you posted this for those who didn't know what telomeres are and not that I didn't??
I do think if you could extend telomeres in your constant dividing cells that you could put off the grave a few extra years, but I think no matter what degradation of non dividing cells will ultimately bring on death!!
Read this article about a supplement to extend telomeres!!
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=anti-aging-pill-targets-telomeres
Sandy Braille
Banned
I think it was directed towards you. The Black Swordsman is in premed, so obviously his opinion trumps your shovel ware degrees and Dixie expertise.
Zulu
Well-Known Member
How close are you to being done???