In 2001, researchers from the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom began a study revolving around alpine swifts. The study has produced astounding results: there is a link between the length of a swift's genetic material and how long it will live. The theory appears to hold true for every animal, including humans.
Telomeres, regions at the ends of chromosomes, facilitate cell growth in organisms. When cells divide, the telomeres shorten. If the telomeres get too short, the cell will stop dividing and will usually die. As organisms age, their capability of replacing dead cells decreases. The length of the telomeres and the rate at which they 'erode' varies from one individual to the next.
Professor Pat Monaghan, leader of the project states that individuals with "relatively short telomeres that were eroding rapidly were less likely to survive to the next year, irrespective of whether they were young or old." Research into the future will most likely reveal factors that affect the rate of erosion of the telomeres in cells. With knowledge in this area, who knows how long we could live for?
James Biggs (42043762)
Source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/mar/15/medical-research-wildlife
Image:
http://www.pbase.com/bister/image/61630744
