Hi!
>Species that do not have long lifespans, such as mice, and farm
>animals (bred for fast growth and other qualities, not longevity)
>are likely to have different controls on teleomere length and
>the length will have different effects vis-a-vis aging.
Why? I've read lots of theories claiming telomeres in mice are differently
regulated than in humans (which appears to be likely) but I'm ignorant
regarding cows' telomeres. You just base your opinion on the fact that cows
live less than us or do you know something I don't?
>Telomere length is fundamentally an anti-cancer control mechanism.
Perhaps but I won't bet my money on it yet (and although that might be true
in humans, it's unlikely to be the case in many other species such as
lobsters or even sharks).
Cloning experiments are useful for they contradict in many ways the theory
of DNA accumating mutations (this particular experiment doesn't do that
because the cells were "aged" in vitro after being taken from a fetus but
other experiments do just that, despite the data no being conclusive).
Best regards.
---
Joao Pedro de Magalhaes
The University of Namur (FUNDP)
Unit of Cellular Biochemistry & Biology
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
B-5000 Namur BELGIUM
Fax: + 32 81 724135
Phone: + 32 81 724133
Reason's Triumph: http://users.compaqnet.be/jpnitya/
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