Genetic determination of telomere size in humans: A twin study of three age groups

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · American Journal of Human Genetics

OSTI ID:56833

Slagboom, P E; Droog, S ^[1]; Boomsma, D I ^[2]

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1. TNO-PG, Leiden (Netherlands)
2. Free Univ., Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Reduction of telomere length has been postulated to be a casual factor in cellular aging. Human telomeres terminate in tandemly arranged repeat arrays consisting of the (TTAGGG) motif. The length of these arrays in cells from human mitotic tissues is inversely related to the age of the donor, indicating telomere reduction with age. In addition to telemore length differences between different age cohorts, considerable variation is present among individuals of the same age. To investigate whether this variation can be ascribed to genetic influences, we have measured the size of terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) in HaeIII-digested genomic DNA from 123 human MZ and DZ twin pairs 2-95 years of age. The average rate of telomere shortening was 31 bp/year, which is similar to that observed by others. Statistical analysis in 115 pairs 2-63 years of age indicates a 78% heritability for mean TRF length in this age cohort. The individual differences in mean TRF length in blood, therefore, seem to a large extent to be genetically determined. 24 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 56833
• Journal Information: American Journal of Human Genetics, Journal Name: American Journal of Human Genetics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 55; ISSN AJHGAG; ISSN 0002-9297
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
ANIMAL CELLS
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
GENETIC EFFECTS
HUMAN CHROMOSOMES
LENGTH
LIFE SPAN
MITOSIS
TELOMERES