Telomeres are like an hourglass of the cell. Each chromosome contains DNA that makes up many genes. Telomeres protect the end of the chromosome and the DNA in the chromosome. You are born with longer telomeres and they shorten at a constant rate throughout your life like the sand in an hourglass. When the sand runs out the cell stops dividing. It becomes senescent. Senescent cells put out inflammatory substances which make sand run out in the other cells faster. When the sand runs out in enough cells We get sick and then we die.
The hourglass is the best image to help me describe telomere dynamics and their effect on aging and chronic disease to those I care for, as well as those that I love. Simplifying the concept has made it much easier to communicate thuis vital information. Thanks once more, Bill.
Great post! 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks Jeff. Great to hear from you.
The hourglass is the best image to help me describe telomere dynamics and their effect on aging and chronic disease to those I care for, as well as those that I love. Simplifying the concept has made it much easier to communicate thuis vital information. Thanks once more, Bill.
It is great to hear from you Kathleen. Thanks for the very generous comment. The best news is we can slow down the sand-now!