From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Mon Feb 17 2003 - 18:55:38 MST
On Mon, 17 Feb 2003, avatar wrote:
> Does anyone know whether any research has been done indicating what area
> of dna is responsible for producing telomerase and for producing repair
> mechanisms for telomerase in somatic cells. Can laser scissors and
> tweezers be used to cut and paste this dna in non-somatic cells? This is
> obviously more advanced stuff but it would seem to be an interesting
> idea.
The telomerase extension activity is more complicated one would expect
on simple examination. The telomere lengthening process requires both
the activity of an RNA-gene (i.e. the production of a segment of RNA
which allows the lengthening of the repeated DNA component of telomeres)
as well as the telomerase enzyme (a normal gene converted into a protein
that operates in conjuction with the RNA based component to extend the
length of telomeres.)
While I'm too lazy right now to go determine precisely which chromosomes
these genes reside on, I am certain that they are well studied by both
Geron and Sierra Sciences.
One needs to be aware that telomere shortening is most likely to
be an anti-cancer program. Arbitrary lengthening of telomeres
is not likely to significantly increase longevity -- but will
most probably increase cancer rates. Telomere lengthening might
buy a decade or two for people whose lives are constrained by
telomere shortening (i.e. those who start out with short telomeres
and/or have low telomere extension activity) -- but it will not
ultimately be a "fountain of youth". Aging is much more complex than that.
People who want to push on this vector should support Sierra Sciences
since that is the general thrust of their research.
Robert
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