What is a telomere and how does it affect cloned animals?
What is a telomere and how does it affect cloned animals?
Answered
A telomere is a repetitive DNA sequence found at the ends of linear chromosomes. It serves as a protective cap that prevents the loss of important genetic information during cell division. Each time a cell divides, the telomere shortens slightly, which limits the number of times a cell can divide. This shortening is associated with cellular aging and senescence.
In the context of cloned animals, telomeres play a significant role. Cloning often involves somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), where the nucleus of an adult cell is transferred into an enucleated egg cell. Since the donor nucleus comes from an already differentiated adult cell, the telomeres of the cloned animal may be shorter than those of a naturally conceived animal of the same species. This is because the donor cell has already undergone multiple divisions, leading to some telomere shortening.
As a result, cloned animals often exhibit premature aging or shorter lifespans compared to their naturally conceived counterparts. Their cells may enter senescence or experience cellular dysfunction more quickly due to the already shortened telomeres, leading to health problems such as weakened immune responses, organ failure, or other age-related diseases.
This phenomenon highlights the importance of telomere length in cellular aging and the potential biological limitations of cloning techniques.
BNO Team