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. […]
Telomeres play an important role in protecting our chromosomes, but as we age, they decrease in length. In this blog we explore how and why telomeres shorten. Telomere structure Human telomeres are made up of thousands of repeats of the same DNA sequence (TTAGGG), bound by a special set of proteins called shelterin. They are […]
Since the COVID-19 global pandemic was declared by World Health Organization in March 2020 there has been a large amount of research conducted and published. Here we examine a couple of recent studies that have been conducted into telomeres and COVID-19. Short telomeres and COVID-19 A study conducted in Belgium, published in Aging, set out […]
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 […]
The results are in from our annual customer telomere testing satisfaction survey, here we take a look… Hearing from our customers is very important to us. We want to ensure that ordering a telomere test from us is as easy and straightforward as possible, as well as meeting the highest expectations in terms of turn […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Now in its 12th year, Rare Disease Day will be celebrated globally on February 29 2020. Here we explain why we want to get involved, and how you can show your support! Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year. The main objective is to raise awareness amongst the general […]