Telomerase is an enzyme whose main function is the maintenance of telomeres. Here we examine what the purpose of telomerase is and the impact when it doesn’t work as it should. What is telomerase? Telomeres are the protective caps found at the end of our chromosomes and they act by preventing damage or fusion with […]
RepeatDx was established in British Columbia, Canada in May 2005. Fifteen years on, as we celebrate our anniversary, we wanted to take a moment to share some quick telomere testing facts. RepeatDx telomere testing facts Dr Peter Lansdorp developed the Flow FISH telomere testing protocol RepeatDx was established as a spin-off from his lab at […]
With research and clinical applications for telomere length measurements increasing we discuss some situations when it may be helpful for physicians or researchers to order a telomere test. There are many situations in which telomere length measurements can be helpful, both in clinical care and in research settings. For the former, telomere test results can […]
In 2005 Peter Lansdorp and Gary de Jong set out to address an unmet need, providing physicians with accurate and reproducible telomere length measurements for use in clinical practice. As we approach our 15th anniversary, we take a look back at the origins of RepeatDx (Repeat Diagnostics Inc.) and what we think makes us and […]
There are multiple different terms for telomere biology disorders, here we explain what they are and what conditions they can encompass. Telomere biology disorders Telomere biology disorders (TBDs) are a complex set of conditions defined by genetic deficits affecting telomere maintenance and by the presence of very short telomeres. These disorders can also be referred […]
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified COVID-19 as a pandemic. While the risk in North Vancouver, British Columbia remains low, we are taking all available precautions to ensure the health and safety of our employees and partners as our utmost priority. To ensure samples reach us in a timely manner we recommend using […]
Telomere biology research is a growing and advancing field, but still people ask ‘can you actually measure telomere length?’ Here we answer this key question and also address how these telomere measurements can be useful. Can you measure telomeres? Yes. There are a number of different ways to measure telomere length, all with varying degrees […]
March 4 is Aplastic Anemia Awareness Day, and to mark the occasion we want to shed some light on this condition and how it can be related to telomeres. What is aplastic anemia? Aplastic anemia is a rare, and potentially serious blood disorder, that occurs when the bone marrow fails to produce enough healthy blood […]
To mark Rare Disease Day, we have a guest blog from Mike who is kindly willing to share his experience with familial dyskeratosis congenita. Hello, my name is Mike and I have a rare disease. It is called Dyskeratosis Congenita (DC) and it runs in my family. My father and my uncle (his twin) had […]
Durhane Wong-Rieger, President & CEO of CORD (Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders), has kindly shared this guest blog explaining why this year is so important for CORD and how they will be getting involved with Rare Disease Day 2020. Rare Disease Day 2020 – A Significant Watershed Every four years, International Rare Disease Day falls […]