Telomere Biology Disorders (TBDs) are also known as Short Telomere Syndromes or telomeropathies. This video explores what causes TBDs and how they can impact people’s health. Telomere Biology Disorders (TBDs) are characterized by genetic deficits affecting telomere maintenance and by the presence of very short telomeres. Symptoms of TBDs can range significantly from person-to-person. In […]
Telomeres shorten as we age and the risk of cancer increases as we get older; here we explore some ways telomeres affect cancer risk. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and with rates of many cancers increasing year on year, it is a priority research area in terms of improving understanding, diagnosis and […]
Telomere length is often considered a biological marker for aging and has been linked to cell lifespan, as well as certain diseases. Here we take a closer look at the relationship between telomeres and aging. What is a telomere? A telomere is a repetitive chain of DNA repeats found on the end of our chromosomes. […]
In this blog we examine what short telomeres are and what short telomere syndromes can mean for certain individuals. What are telomeres for? Our chromosomes need to be protected to prevent damage, or them fusing with other chromosomes. Telomeres are the protective structures found on the end of chromosomes. They are made up of thousands […]
This Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month we have a guest blog from Heather, who is kindly sharing her experience with IPF to help raise awareness. IPF diagnosis I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in February, 2013. I was 43 years old. My father and grandfather both passed from IPF so I knew there was […]
RepeatDx offers both 2- and 6-panel tests, here we outline some of the advantages of ordering the 6-panel telomere test. What telomere length tests are available? There are a range of telomere length tests available, however, the clinical laboratory at RepeatDx conducts specialist Flow FISH telomere testing (fluorescence in situ hybridization with flow cytometry). This […]
Over the past 30 years we have learned a lot about telomeres, including what they are and where they are found. In this blog we will discuss why exactly we need telomeres and the important processes that they have a role in. What are telomeres made of? Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences found at the […]
There is a growing body of clinical research investigating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and telomere biology – here we explore some reasons why ordering a telomere length test may provide useful insight when diagnosing or treating someone with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. What is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis? Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a complex disorder characterized […]
Katie Bergstrom, a Genetic Counselor based in Seattle, kindly shares a guest blog discussing some important considerations for both individuals and families when testing for Telomere Biology Disorders. Telomere biology disorders (TBDs) are hereditary conditions characterized by disorders related to telomere maintenance. You can learn more about TBDs in this dedicated blog. TBDs can be […]
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 […]