Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Onlyinterestednotdevoted on 25/11/2008 15:40:21

Title: Telemerase
Post by: Onlyinterestednotdevoted on 25/11/2008 15:40:21

So basically this stuff is the life-line?.?.?.

Is it possible to live without telemerase in the chromosomes? If so, are there any creatures evolving away from it?

I am not exactly sure on how it functions in the genes but to the best of my knowlege, it is used in the reproduction of chromosomes. Correct me where I am wrong.

Title: Telemerase
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 26/11/2008 01:45:01

Telomerase is a DNA polymerase with limited functionality. It will only elongate oligonucleotides from the telomere and has no effect on other sequences.

Title: Telemerase
Post by: dentstudent on 26/11/2008 07:38:14

It's also an anagram of Arse Omelet

Title: Telemerase
Post by: Don_1 on 26/11/2008 08:02:32

Quote from: dentstudent on 26/11/2008 07:38:14

It's also an anagram of Arse Omelet

Waiter, cancel the omelet, I'll just have the two slices of toast, thank you!

Title: Telemerase
Post by: blakestyger on 26/11/2008 18:35:16

Telomerase in yeast cells is active and keeps chromosomes at their appropriate length, but its presence in tumours is linked to the uncontrolled multiplication of cancer cells - it is inactive in normal cells in higher organisms.

Every time a cell divides some sequences of the telomere are lost - so after 60 - 100 divisions the cell dies - this is the telomere theory of ageing that has caused some concern.

Title: Telemerase
Post by: Onlyinterestednotdevoted on 01/12/2008 15:07:04

But that is not the case in sex cells is it? If it were the same in the sex cells, then surely all animal lifeforms would be dead by now.

Title: Telemerase
Post by: Bored chemist on 01/12/2008 18:27:09

Two slices of toast is an anagram of "Fossils Act Wet Too".
I don't know a lot about telomeres but I have a nasty feeling that making cells live forever (by whatever mechanism) is exactly the same as making them cancerous.

Title: Telemerase
Post by: Pseudogene on 02/12/2008 06:42:46

Quote from: Bored chemist on 01/12/2008 18:27:09

Two slices of toast is an anagram of "Fossils Act Wet Too".
I don't know a lot about telomeres but I have a nasty feeling that making cells live forever (by whatever mechanism) is exactly the same as making them cancerous.

Bingo!  There are generally only two types of cells in the body that actively express telomerase, stem cells and cancerous cells.