In article <199904111945.MAA25015 at whale.fsr.net>, lolo-xtc at PULLMAN.COM
says...
>>>>Telomerase seems to be the hot topic around here. It would certainly be an
>easy solution to the aging problem, if only it were that simple. I think
>the evidence supporting the role of telomere shortening leading to in vitro
>senescence is overwhelming and people take this as a given now. Most
>academic researchers (see Martin J. of Gerontology: Biological sciences,
>vol 48, No 5, B171-172) however, that is researchers who do not depend on
>gulible investors for funding, do not share the believe that in vitro
>senescence, hence telomere shortening, has anything to do with organismal
>aging.
>I reviewed the evidence 2 years ago, and I did not find any compeling
>argument supporting the statement that in vitro senescence has any
>relationship to in vivo aging.
>Perhaps data has come out to support this point within the last 2 years. In
>this case, will anybody please enligthen me!
>
There has, literally, been an explosion of published research regarding
telomeres and the enzyme telomerase in the past two years. New results are
being published every week.
Over the past year I have written a series of posts in the newsgroups
recounting some of this research. The entire article, along with full
references, is available at;
http://home.earthlink.net/~excelife/indexa.html
To briefly answer some of the questions you raised;
1) The telomeric theory of aging does not provide an "easy solution to the
aging problem". It is a scientific investigation into the fundamental causes
of replicative cellular aging an its relation to aging and age related
diseases.
While beneficial therapies may be developed from this line of research there
is no magic pill that will cure aging overnight.
2) The best evidence to date, that telomeric length and telomerase
maintenance of the telomeres is related in vivo aging is the studies of long
lived organisms such as the Rainbow Trout, (FEBS Lett 1998 Sep
4;434(3):409-412), and Lobsters, (FEBS Lett 1998 Nov 13;439(1-2):143-6).
For a more detailed analysis of how telomeres may be related to aging and
specific references please read the article referenced above.
Thomas Mahoney, Pres.
Lifeline Laboratories, Inc.
http://home.earthlink.net/~excelife/index.html
