The Long and Short of It: The Role of Telomeres in Fetal Origins of Adult Disease
Figure 1
Telomere length and stability decrease throughout a lifespan. In utero stress can cause premature telomere shortening and destabilization that will cause cells to age and become senescent compared to normal individuals. This can be further exacerbated with poor post-natal nutrition. With new molecular modifiers of telomerase becoming available, it may soon be possible to rescue cells and reduce premature aging in a tissue. Cells that have a functional telomerase can maintain telomere integrity and be immortalized, such as stem cells and germ cells.