Telomerase: The End of Aging
Sarah A. Jackson

Aging- it’s a fact of life we all have to face; wrinkles, hair loss and health conditions. These traits of aging may be due to individual cell aging, otherwise known as senescence. Each cell in your body may only divide a limited number of times before senescence occurs. Senescence is directly related to the health of the DNA of each cell. The end of each strand of DNA is tipped with telomeres.

Telomeres are comprised of repeating DNA segments, which are not necessary for the health of the cell. After each cell division, some of this useless DNA is lost. Losing the part of the telomere is not harmful, but once the entire telomere is lost, the cells reach the Hayflick limit. The Hayflick limit is the point where the DNA does not have any section of telomere left to protect itself. If cell division continues, DNA is lost that is pertinent to the genetic stability of the cell. These genetic losses may contribute to age spots, wrinkles or other signs of aging.

A study was performed to verify the theory that the older the cells, the shorter the telomeres. When DNA samples were taken from a spectrum aged people, and a direct correlation was present relating the length of the telomere with the capacity of the cell to replicate. There was a varying correlation between age and telomere length, which explains why people age at varying rates. What about people with aging disorders, such as those people diagnosed with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria patients. Progeria is a genetic disorder in which a child ages incredibly rapidly. Although these children are very young, when telomere length is measured from their cells, the telomere length is incredibly short. The Hayflick limit of these cells is reached much sooner in life, which results in the aged body of a relatively young child, and death during adolescence.

A natural enzyme, telomerase, could be the key to inhibiting the process of aging. Telomerase is not typically present in average body cells. It is commonly found in cells which replicate frequently, such as fetal cells, or male sex cells. The enzyme telomerase forms more repeating, unnecessary DNA which is then used to lengthen the telomere. This postpones the cell reaching the Hayflick limit, ultimately delaying aging. This enzyme could be the key to treat the genetic disorder, Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria. Eventually, telomerase may eventually be used for aesthetic and other aging related health purposes. Telomerase could be the cosmetic component of the future.