Variation

[sdekivit]

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Post by sdekivit » Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:25 pm

He he he, I see .

Now I'm going to continue looking for some information about telomerase . Ah, I forgot, happy new year if I don't cyber-see you today! .

happy new year to you too

i have some information for you about telomerase in normal somatic cells. My cell biology book Alberts et al says the following:

'In most human cells, other than those of the germ line and some stem cells, expression of the gene coding for the catalytic subunit of telomerase is switched off, or at least not fully activated. As a result, the telomeres in these cells tend to become a little shorter with each round of cell division.'

[.....]

'Mice have telomeres much longer than those of humans. Moreover, unlike humans, they keep telomerase active in their somatic cells, and mouse telomeres therefore do not tend to shorten with increasing age of the organism.It is possible, however, to use knockout technology to make mice that lack functional telomerase. In these mice, the telomeres become shorter with every generation, but no untoward consequences are seen until, in the great-great-grandchildren of the initial mutants, the telomeres become so short that they disappear or cease to function. Beyond this point, the mice begin to show various abnormalities, including an increased incidence of cancer. This raises the possibility that natural telomere shortening helps to engender many human tumors.'

Hope it gives you more info.

[Enzyme]

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Post by Enzyme » Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:55 pm

Hey sdekivit, that's great!

I have used Alberts in other cases (I go many times to the library of my Faculty to take it. It's a great book). But now I'm in Palencia (not in León), so I can't go to my Faculty. But after holidays, as I return there, I'll look for the information which you wrote me in the book.

I'm going pass to a .doc file the text which you wrote. Thanks and one hug for taking the trouble to find this information.

[sdekivit]

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Post by sdekivit » Sat Dec 31, 2005 5:15 pm

it's on page 1347-1348

[Enzyme]

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Post by Enzyme » Sat Dec 31, 2005 5:37 pm

He he he, OK, I'll take a look.