Find out your biological age by telomere length – buy Nobel tests!
Nobel laureate decided to sell aging tests
Copper news
American researcher Elizabeth Blackburn, together with Jack Shostak and Carol Greider, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2009 for her work on telomeres and telomerase, will begin selling tests for determining biological age based on her discovery. The scientist was asked about this by the New Scientist magazine (Telomere Nobelist: Selling a 'biological age' test).
Telomeres are relatively short sequences of nucleotides at the ends of DNA chromosomes. They are necessary for the proper functioning of the DNA polymerase enzyme, which doubles the genome during cell division. With each division, telomere shortening occurs; when further shortening is impossible, the cell stops multiplying. It is assumed that this mechanism is the basis of biological aging. The telomerase enzyme can lengthen telomeres, but in adults it is active enough only in constantly dividing cells, such as colony-forming units of the bone marrow.
Answering questions from the publication, Blackburn explained that checking the length of her telomeres is similar in value to weighing – the only indicator depends on many factors. In general, according to her, this parameter reflects the general state of human health. As proof, the scientist cited the results of a study conducted in 2004 with colleagues from the University of California, San Francisco, which showed that telomere shortening is observed, for example, in chronic stress, heart disease and bone marrow disorders.
As Blackburn explained, she decided to participate in the founding of Telome Health, a company that sells telomere length tests, when she was preparing for the Know your telomeres study. This study, which is currently underway, is designed to obtain additional information about the relationship of telomeres with other markers of aging, ways to measure them, dependence on lifestyle, etc.
According to the researcher, when the recruitment of volunteers to participate in Know your telomeres was announced, there was no end of those who wanted to. This indicates good commercial prospects for Telome Health.
Blackburn also noted that the company currently produces tests only for scientific research. The analysis kit should be available for free sale by the end of this year. Its cost will not exceed $ 200.
As the scientist explained, the measurement of telomeres in white blood cells gives the most information, so they are used for analysis. To get leukocytes for analysis, you need to take a blood test, saliva or a smear from the inner surface of the cheek. What kind of methodology will be used in commercial tests, the interview does not say.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru06.05.2011