Download or read book Origin and Evolution of Telomeres written by Jozef Nosek and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2008-05-26 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Linear chromosomes represent an evolutionary innovation associated with the origin of eukaryotic cells. This book describes how linear chromosomes and primordial pathways for maintaining their terminal structures, telomeres, emerged in early eukaryotes.Telomeres, derived from the Greek meaning terminal part, were first described by Hermann Muller i

Download or read book The Evolving Telomeres written by Arthur J. Lustig and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2016-07-19 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What controls the different rates of evolution to give rise to conserved and divergent proteins and RNAs? How many trials until evolution can adapt to physiological changes? Every organism has arisen through multiple molecular changes, and the mechanisms that are employed (mutagenesis, recombination, transposition) have been an issue left to the elegant discipline of evolutionary biology. But behind the theory are realities that we have yet to ascertain: How does an evolving cell accommodate its requirements for both conserving its essential functions, while also providing a selective advantage? In this volume, we focus on the evolution of the eukaryotic telomere, the ribo-nuclear protein complex at the end of a linear chromosome. The telomere is an example of a single chromosomal element that must function to maintain genomic stability. The telomeres of all species must provide a means to avoid the attrition from semi-conservative DNA replication and a means of telomere elongation (the telomere replication problem). For example, telomerase is the most well-studied mechanism to circumvent telomere attrition by adding the short repeats that constitutes most telomeres. The telomere must also guard against the multiple activities that can act on an unprotected double strand break requiring a window (or checkpoint) to compensate for telomere sequence loss as well as protection against non-specific processes (the telomere protection problem). This volume describes a range of methodologies including mechanistic studies, phylogenetic comparisons and data-based theoretical approaches to study telomere evolution over a broad spectrum of organisms that includes plants, animals and fungi. In telomeres that are elongated by telomerases, different components have widely different rates of evolution. Telomerases evolved from roots in archaebacteria including splicing factors and LTR-transposition. At the conserved level, the telomere is a rebel among double strand breaks (DSBs) and has altered the function of the highly conserved proteins of the ATM pathway into an elegant means of protecting the chromosome end and maintaining telomere size homeostasis through a competition of positive and negative factors. This homeostasis, coupled with highly conserved capping proteins, is sufficient for protection. However, far more proteins are present at the telomere to provide additional species-specific functions. Do these proteins provide insight into how the cell allows for rapid change without self-destruction?

Download or read book The Evolving Telomeres written by and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What controls the different rates of evolution to give rise to conserved and divergent proteins and RNAs? How many trials until evolution can adapt to physiological changes? Every organism has arisen through multiple molecular changes, and the mechanisms that are employed (mutagenesis, recombination, transposition) have been an issue left to the elegant discipline of evolutionary biology. But behind the theory are realities that we have yet to ascertain: How does an evolving cell accommodate its requirements for both conserving its essential functions, while also providing a selective advantage? In this volume, we focus on the evolution of the eukaryotic telomere, the ribo-nuclear protein complex at the end of a linear chromosome. The telomere is an example of a single chromosomal element that must function to maintain genomic stability. The telomeres of all species must provide a means to avoid the attrition from semi-conservative DNA replication and a means of telomere elongation (the telomere replication problem). For example, telomerase is the most well-studied mechanism to circumvent telomere attrition by adding the short repeats that constitutes most telomeres. The telomere must also guard against the multiple activities that can act on an unprotected double strand break requiring a window (or checkpoint) to compensate for telomere sequence loss as well as protection against non-specific processes (the telomere protection problem). This volume describes a range of methodologies including mechanistic studies, phylogenetic comparisons and data-based theoretical approaches to study telomere evolution over a broad spectrum of organisms that includes plants, animals and fungi. In telomeres that are elongated by telomerases, different components have widely different rates of evolution. Telomerases evolved from roots in archaebacteria including splicing factors and LTR-transposition. At the conserved level, the telomere is a rebel among double strand breaks (DSBs) and has altered the function of the highly conserved proteins of the ATM pathway into an elegant means of protecting the chromosome end and maintaining telomere size homeostasis through a competition of positive and negative factors. This homeostasis, coupled with highly conserved capping proteins, is sufficient for protection. However, far more proteins are present at the telomere to provide additional species-specific functions. Do these proteins provide insight into how the cell allows for rapid change without self-destruction?

Download or read book Origin and Evolution of Telomeres written by Jozef Nosek and published by . This book was released on 2008-07 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancer written by Keiko Hiyama and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-03-18 with total page 375 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Telomerase, an enzyme that maintains telomeres and endows eukaryotic cells with immortality, was first discovered in tetrahymena in 1985. In 1990s, it was proven that this enzyme also plays a key role in the infinite proliferation of human cancer cells. Now telomere and telomerase are widely accepted as important factors involved in cancer biology, and as promising diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets. Recently, role of telomerase in “cancer stem cells” has become another attractive story. Until now, there are several good books on telomere and telomerase focusing on biology in ciliates, yeasts, and mouse or basic sciences in human, providing basic scientists or students with updated knowledge.

Download or read book Telomeres written by Titia De Lange and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 598 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An up-to-date survey of the current exciting state of telomere biology. Telomeres – specialized structures found at the ends of chromosomes – are essential for maintaining the integrity of chromosomes and their faithful duplication during cell division. Chapters in this volume cover telomere structure and function in a range of organisms, focusing on how they are maintained, their roles in cell division and gene expression, and how deficiencies in these structures contribute to cancers and other diseases and even aging.

Download or read book The Role of Telomeres in the Evolution of Exceptional Longevity in Bats written by Nicole M. Foley and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Telomere Effect written by Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and published by Grand Central Publishing. This book was released on 2017-01-03 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The New York Times bestselling book coauthored by the Nobel Prize winner who discovered telomerase and telomeres' role in the aging process and the health psychologist who has done original research into how specific lifestyle and psychological habits can protect telomeres, slowing disease and improving life. Have you wondered why some sixty-year-olds look and feel like forty-year-olds and why some forty-year-olds look and feel like sixty-year-olds? While many factors contribute to aging and illness, Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn discovered a biological indicator called telomerase, the enzyme that replenishes telomeres, which protect our genetic heritage. Dr. Blackburn and Dr. Elissa Epel's research shows that the length and health of one's telomeres are a biological underpinning of the long-hypothesized mind-body connection. They and other scientists have found that changes we can make to our daily habits can protect our telomeres and increase our health spans (the number of years we remain healthy, active, and disease-free). The Telemere Effect reveals how Blackburn and Epel's findings, together with research from colleagues around the world, cumulatively show that sleep quality, exercise, aspects of diet, and even certain chemicals profoundly affect our telomeres, and that chronic stress, negative thoughts, strained relationships, and even the wrong neighborhoods can eat away at them. Drawing from this scientific body of knowledge, they share lists of foods and suggest amounts and types of exercise that are healthy for our telomeres, mind tricks you can use to protect yourself from stress, and information about how to protect your children against developing shorter telomeres, from pregnancy through adolescence. And they describe how we can improve our health spans at the community level, with neighborhoods characterized by trust, green spaces, and safe streets. The Telemere Effect will make you reassess how you live your life on a day-to-day basis. It is the first book to explain how we age at a cellular level and how we can make simple changes to keep our chromosomes and cells healthy, allowing us to stay disease-free longer and live more vital and meaningful lives.

Download or read book Elizabeth Blackburn and the Story of Telomeres written by Catherine Brady and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2009-02-13 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story of molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn and her groundbreaking research on telomeres and what it reveals about the resourceful opportunism that characterizes the best scientific thinking. Molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn—one of Time magazine's 100 “Most Influential People in the World” in 2007—made headlines in 2004 when she was dismissed from the President's Council on Bioethics after objecting to the council's call for a moratorium on stem cell research and protesting the suppression of relevant scientific evidence in its final report. But it is Blackburn's groundbreaking work on telomeric DNA, which launched the field of telomere research, that will have the more profound and long-lasting effect on science and society. In this compelling biography, Catherine Brady tells the story of Elizabeth Blackburn's life and work and the emergence of a new field of scientific research on the specialized ends of chromosomes and the enzyme, telomerase, that extends them. In the early stages of telomere research, telomerase, heralded as a potential cure for cancer and diseases related to aging, attracted the voracious interest of biotech companies. The surrounding hype succeeded in confusing the role of telemorase in extending the life of a cell with a mechanism that might extend the lifespan of an entire organism. In Brady's hands, Blackburn's story reveals much about the tension between pure and applied science, the politicking that makes research science such a competitive field, and the resourceful opportunism that characterizes the best scientific thinking. Brady describes the science accessibly and compellingly. She explores Blackburn's struggle to break down barriers in an elite, male-dominated profession, her role as a mentor to other women scientists (many of whom have made their mark in telomere research), and the collaborative nature of scientific work. This book gives us a vivid portrait of an exceptional woman and a new understanding of the combination of curiosity, imaginative speculation, and aesthetic delight that powers scientific discovery.

Download or read book Relics of Eden written by Daniel J. Fairbanks and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2009-09-18 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the publication in 1859 of Darwin’s Origin of Species, debate over the theory of evolution has been continuous and often impassioned. In recent years, opponents of "Darwin’s dangerous idea" have mounted history’s most sophisticated and generously funded attack, claiming that evolution is "a theory in crisis." Ironically, these claims are being made at a time when the explosion of information from genome projects has revealed the most compelling and overwhelming evidence of evolution ever discovered. Much of the latest evidence of human evolution comes not from our genes, but from so-called "junk DNA," leftover relics of our evolutionary history that make up the vast majority of our DNA. Relics of Eden explores this powerful DNA-based evidence of human evolution. The "relics" are the millions of functionally useless but scientifically informative remnants of our evolutionary ancestry trapped in the DNA of every person on the planet. For example, the analysis of the chimpanzee and Rhesus monkey genomes shows indisputable evidence of the human evolutionary relationship with other primates. Over 95 percent of our genome is identical with that of chimpanzees and we also have a good deal in common with other animal species. Author Daniel J. Fairbanks also discusses what DNA analysis reveals about where humans originated. The diversity of DNA sequences repeatedly confirms the archeological evidence that humans originated in sub-Saharan Africa (the "Eden" of the title) and from there migrated through the Middle East and Asia to Europe, Australia, and the Americas. In conclusion, Fairbanks confronts the supposed dichotomy between evolution and religion, arguing that both science and religion are complementary ways to seek truth. He appeals to the vast majority of Americans who hold religious convictions not to be fooled by the pseudoscience of Creationists and Intelligent Design advocates and to abandon the false dichotomy between religion and real science. This concise, very readable presentation of recent genetic research is completely accessible to the nonspecialist and makes for enlightening and fascinating reading.

Download or read book Telomeres in Ecology and Evolution written by David Gómez Blanco and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Studying life history strategies is crucial for understanding the diversity among organisms. The trade-offs in traits related to survival, self-maintenance and reproduction play an important role in the variation of life histories and can be adjusted in response to environmental and physiological factors. Telomeres, which are repetitive DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes, can serve as molecular markers linking these factors and ultimately fitness. Telomeres naturally shorten with age and stress, such as diseases, and when they become too short, they trigger cellular senescence and ageing. However, some telomere restoration mechanisms can counteract this process. In this thesis, first I have adopted a theoretical approach to review the telomere research field and develop hypotheses for future exploration. Then, I also included an empirical section that aimed to evaluate and test some of these hypotheses' general patterns using data from a wild population of the polygynous bird species, the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). I have taken advantage of the longitudinal study conducted for 40 years at Lake Kvismaren that have collected a comprehensive dataset on life history, behaviours and fitness components, along with a sampling of all the bird born and breeding in the area. I measured telomere length using the quantitative PCR method, and to investigate the ecological and evolutionary implications of parasites, I used the multiplex PCR method to detect the presence of avian malaria parasites in the birds' blood. In the first part of this thesis, I and my collaborators present a summary of telomere hypotheses that apply to the fields of ecology and evolution. We also classify and group these hypotheses based on their research context and hierarchical similarities. Furthermore, we identify gaps in the knowledge, such as the lack of hypotheses that can clarify telomere elongation patterns in the wild. As a result, we propose and expand on a novel hypothesis that highlights the significance of elongation patterns and encourages further exploration in this area of telomere dynamics. The second section of the thesis aimed to test some of the assumptions made in the previous hypotheses. The studies were focused on examining the existence of a lower threshold for telomere length and I revealed that individuals with critically short telomeres disappeared from the population at a greater rate than those with longer telomeres. Furthermore, life stressors such as infections had an impact on these selection patterns. In this thesis, I also found that even in early-life a considerable percentage of individuals can display a net increase in telomere length (telomere elongation), and this prospect was dependent on factors like infection and the current telomere length. Finally, this thesis demonstrates that various factors including age, malaria status, and harem size can predict the dynamics of telomere length in male and female great reed warblers. These sex-specific telomere dynamics could potentially provide indications of the individual's phenotypic quality. In summary, this thesis has contributed to our understanding of telomere dynamics in the wild, particularly concerning the complex interactions between telomere length, infections and life history trade-offs. It has addressed some gaps in our knowledge of telomere biology and provided insights into important yet under-explored areas, like telomere elongation patterns. The thesis highlights the need for further research into telomere elongation events, the impact of short telomeres on individual life histories, and the potential use of telomeres as a biomarker for individual quality or as a measure of environmental stressors faced.

Download or read book Mobile DNA II written by Nancy L. Craig and published by Amer Society for Microbiology. This book was released on 2002 with total page 1204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An extension of the original volume, reflecting the latest advances in understanding these elements. This title is published by the American Society for Microbiology Press and distributed by Taylor and Francis in rest of world territories.

Download or read book The Evolution of Avian Lifespan written by Mark Frederick Haussmann and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Identifying and understanding the processes that underlie variation in lifespan within and among species is a central area of biological research. Questions centered on how and why organisms grow old link disciplines such as evolutionary ecology to cell biology and gerontology. One process now known to be pivotal in this area is the erosion of the protective ends of chromosomes, the telomeres, which occurs during cell replication. Telomeres play a central role in cellular senescence, but we currently know very little about how telomere dynamics affect organism aging on the whole, as well as variation in maximum lifespan between species. In this context, this dissertation intends to explore telomere dynamics association with aging patterns, lifespan and survival in birds, which are an interesting taxonomic group to explore patterns of senescence. As a group, birds tend to be longer lived than mammals of similar size, despite factors such as high metabolic rates that should accelerate aging. The long lifespan of many birds suggest they have evolved physiological mechanisms to protect against aging. In this dissertation, I begin by reviewing what we currently know about telomeres, aging and lifespan and describe an interesting link between telomeres and lifestyle. I then explain how knowledge of telomere length can be used to estimate ages of free-living birds. Next, I investigate the rate at which telomeres shorten in avian species which vary broadly in their maximum lifespan and describe a fundamental link between the rate at which telomeres shorten and the maximum lifespan a species can attain. I also show that telomerase, an enzyme capable of elongating telomeres may be responsible for this relationship. Within populations, I describe how telomere length may be associated with individual survival and that telomere length is heritable. Near the end of the dissertation, I depart from the telomere dynamics studies and describe immunosenescence of cell-mediated immunity in three avian species. My dissertation work centers on age-old questions in biology concerning how and why organisms grow old. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that telomere dynamics play an important role in the evolution of avian aging, survival and lifespan.

Download or read book Plant Genomics and Proteomics written by Christopher A. Cullis and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2004-01-20 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plant research has stood at the forefront of the genomics revolution. One of the first genome projects, the sequencing of the commonly used model organism Arabidopsis, has already yielded important results for the study of a broad array of crops such as corn and soybeans. With crop and food bioengineering only in its infancy, the need to understand the fundamental genetic mechanisms of plants will only become more pressing. A comprehensive guide to this fascinating area of genomics, Plant Genomics and Proteomics presents an integrated, broadly accessible treatment of the complex relationship between the genome, transcriptome, and proteome of plants. This clearly written text introduces the reader to the range of molecular techniques applicable to investigating the unique facets of plant growth, development, and response to the environment. Coverage includes: Functional and structural genomics addressed within the context of current techniques and challenges to come How to utilize DNA and protein sequence data Practical considerations for choosing and employing the most commonly available computer applications A review of applications for biotechnology, including genetic modification and defense against pathogens Bioinformatics tools and Web resources Numerous examples from the latest research throughout Assuming no specialized knowledge of plant biology on the part of its reader, Plant Genomics and Proteomics provides an invaluable resource for students and researchers in biotechnology, plant biology, genomics, and bioinformatics.

Download or read book Advanced Ecological Theory written by J. McGlade and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2009-04-01 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advanced Ecological Theory is intended for both postgraduate students and professional researchers in ecology. It provides an overview of current advances in the field as well as closely related areas in evolution, ecological economics, and natural-resource management, familiarizing the reader with the mathematical, computational and statistical approaches used in these different areas. The book has an exciting set of diverse contributions written by leading authorities.

Download or read book The Immortality Edge written by Michael Fossel and published by Turner Publishing Company. This book was released on 2010-11-19 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on Nobel Prize–winning genetic research-a simple plan to keep your telomeres healthy for better health and longevity Telomeres play an important role in protecting our chromosomes from critical damage. The shortening of the telomere disrupts vital cellular function and promotes the previously seemingly inevitable onset of aging and various diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer's. Drawing from the groundbreaking discoveries about telomeres that won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine, this book includes a highly prescriptive program that shows you how to live longer by slowing telomere shortening and rejuvenating your cells through relatively simple alterations in nutrition habits and other lifestyle changes. Written by authors with extensive knowledge of genetics, telomeres, and longevity Offers a simple action plan you can start using immediately Includes a revolutionary new eating plan Recommends individualized supplement programs Shares a diet and exercise approach grounded in solid scientific research The exciting recent discoveries about telomeres promise to revolutionize our approach to anti-aging much as antioxidants did ten years ago. Unlike trendy diet and fitness books with no basis in science, The Immortality Edge targets health at its innermost level by laying out a realistic, lifelong plan using easy steps that can fit into any busy schedule-steps that can improve the length and quality of your life.

Download or read book Genes in Conflict written by Austin BURT and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2009-06-30 with total page 613 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Covering all species from yeast to humans, this is the first book to tell the story of selfish genetic elements that act narrowly to advance their own replication at the expense of the larger organism.