In current society, cancer is one of the most fatal and prevalent diseases to exist. However, new research being conducted on telomeres and telomerase provides insight on not only the aging process and mortality of cells, but also on how the idea of cell death connects to cancer cells. By gaining knowledge on the supposed immortality of cancer cells, researchers are acquiring a higher understanding of the subject, and attempting to work on alternate techniques to provide treatment for the illness. The connection between telomeres and cancer and the momentous discoveries being made on them is revolutionizing the world through potential current and future applications that have significant implications for cancer treatment, and society, the economy, and technology. Firstly, there is an unmistakable link between telomeres, telomerase, and cancer. In eukaryotic cells, the chromosomes are linear and undeviating DNA molecules1. Due to this fact and due to the natural technicalities of DNA replication, diminutive amounts of DNA are not replicated and are lost every time a cell divides1. To prevent irreplaceable and important genes from being lost and inflicting damage upon the cell, telomeres, which are non-coding strands of DNA, are present at the ends of the chromosomes2, 8. The shortening of telomeres is associated with the mortality of cells; when telomeres run out, the coding regions of the chromosomes are susceptible to be damaged instead, leading to the loss of cellular functions and eventual cell death2, 8. Telomeres are produced by an enzyme called telomerase, which ceases to be completely active after the development of the embryo2. Recent research has proven that telomere shortening paves the way for cancer, driving the gene... ... middle of paper ... ...r, and immortality." Young Scientists Journal Jan.-June 2013: 9. Science in Context. Web. 19 May 2014. 9. Travis, John. "End games: tips of chromosomes may contain secrets of cancer and aging." Science News 25 Nov. 1995: 362+. Science in Context. Web. 20 May 2014. 10. Seppa, Nathan. "Enzyme stopper combats cancers." Science News 28 May 2005: 349. Science in Context. Web. 19 May 2014. 11. Stover, Dawn. "Fountain of youth? A cellular enzyme with rejuvenating powers is providing clues about cancer and how to reverse the aging process." Popular Science Feb. 1999: 57+. Science in Context. Web. 19 May 2014. 12. "Chemotherapy." World of Scientific Discovery. Gale, 2007. Science in Context. Web. 23 May 2014. 13. Frey, Rebecca J. "Radiation therapy." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Ed. Laurie J. Fundukian. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2011. Science in Context. Web. 24 May 2014.
Common sense seems to dictate that we are all going to die one day. As we all get older we crave to keep our youth, and to stay young forever is the ultimate dream. The thought of a possible immortality is just an added benefit. Even though we have strived towards this goal for centuries, have we obtained advances in successfully staying young forever? In Bill Gifford’s book “Spring Chicken: Stay Young Forever (Or Die Trying)” he explores these ideas of life and aging further. In this novel, he goes on a journey to try and debunk the mysteries and questions behind the new science of aging. He gathers information from tests and scientists from around the country to discover what really works to prevent or delay aging and what is just a hopeful hoax. He helps us figure out why we age and why aging
Carol W. Greider discovered telomerase alongside Elizabeth Blackburn. In 2006, Carol W. Greider shared the Albert Lasker Award. Later on she went to study small telomerase. Small telomerase is also known as premature aging. She found out that small telomerase can cause harm or damage to the human body. It causes cancer to people who have small telomerase.
Skin aging depends on various factors such as diet, lifestyle, heredity and personal habbit. It is a complex process involving all layers of the epidermis and dermis, comprising denaturing proteins and reduced functioning of regenerative stem cells. Stem cell location in the epidermis is divided into basal layer stem cells and interfollicular stem cells [6]. A decline in the function of epidermal stem cells has been observed in association with shortened telomeres, which reduced proliferative potential in response to UV exposure leading to premature skin aging and senescence [7].
Walia, Arjun. "20 Medical Studies That Prove Cannabis Can Cure Cancer." Collective Publisher. Collective Publisher, 23 Aug. 2013. Web. 8 Nov. 2013. .
Nandakumar, J., Bell, C.F., Weidenfeld, I., Zaug, A.J., Leinwand, L.A., Cech, T.R. The TEL patch of telomere protein TPP1 mediates telomerase recruitment and processivity. Nature, 492: 285-289 (2012).
Kinghorn, Douglas A., Young-Won Chin, and Steven M. Swanson. "Discovery of Natural Product Anticancer Agents from Biodiverse Organisms." NIH Public Access 12.2 (2009): 189-96.
According to the website WebMD the United States has the seventh highest cancer rate in the world Half of us will hear the words “you have cancer” at some point in our lives (2005). That’s a stark figure. And it’s a reminder, that should remind all of us, of the challenge we face in beating this disease. This is not to say we are not making progress: more people are beating cancer today than ever before. Survival has doubled in the last 40 years(2005). More than three-quarters of all people diagnosed with cancer are over the age of 60. Because cancer is a disease of our genes the bits of DNA code that hold the instructions for all of the microscopic machinery inside our cells. Over time, mistakes accumulate in this code – scientists can now see them stamped in cancer’s DNA. And it’s these mistakes that can kick start a cell’s journey towards becoming cancerous. The longer we live, the more time we have for errors to build up. As time passes, our risk of developing cancer goes up, as we a...
For many years, we have question why cancer has become a huge epidemic in our society today. Day by day, people are seeking answers and wanting to know the real facts of cancer. In the study, many factors came to play, and the variability of these factors gave unexpected outcome. Although researchers aren't 100% sure about the treatment, it seems that they've found a way to lessen cancer cases.
The aging process is difficult to analyze because of the way that the body’s organ systems work together. The breakdown of one structure will ultimately affect the function of others. The medical field of gerontology deals with examining the biological changes of aging, both passive and active, that occur at the molecular and cellular levels. This paper will seek to explore those changes, and the affect that they have on the process of aging.
7.6 million people each year, worldwide die from cancer (“Cancer”). The most common types of cancer include breast, prostate, skin, lung, and brain. Cancer can form anywhere in the form a tumor or mass. Cancer starts out when abnormal cells grow out of control. Metastasis is when the cancer cells get into the lymph vessels or the blood stream and it can flow to different organs. Most cells with damaged DNA either die or repair themselves, but with cancer cells which is when the cell growth is out of control, they don't die or repair themselves. Instead they replicate the damaged DNA cell and infect the body with damaged cells. In the past 30 years, cancer treatment has evolved by genetic mapping, advances in treatment, and early detection.
After endless amount of research, scientist have noticed that every time a cell divides, the telomere gets shorter. If the telomere gets shorter, the cell is no longer able to divide, which then results in the termination of the cell. Scientists at the University of Utah, have associated the shortening of the telomeres with the causes of aging, deadly cancers, and higher risks of death (Richard Cawthon). Richard Cawthon, a geneticist at the University of Utah, has found that shorter telomeres are associated with shorter lives. Dr. Cawthon found that people among the ages of 60 and older that had shorter telomeres were three times more likely to die from heart disease and eight times more likely to die of infectious diseases. Research has discovered that rapidly dividing cells in tissues that are involved with telomerase cause the most defects in humans.
We all know about and have been touched by cancer somehow. Cancer is the world’s leading cause of death today and therefore is the reason scientists are scrambling for a cure. In this report, Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy will be reported and explained, but also more in depth details on the DNA born disease.
potential for them to slow other kinds of cancers, such as breast cancer and leukemia” (Vaida, Bara).
In this day and age, humans have created the ability to manipulate a person’s body and overall health to further extend their life. From simple things such as dietary changes or supplements, to life saving technology, medicine, and everything in between, the ability to make a life last longer than it would have otherwise is an amazing gift. While the future holds much opportunity for growth in the ability to extend human’s lifespan, the medical abilities currently possessed offer human kind the ability to live longer than ever before.
Do you ever wanted to know how long will you live? There are so much wonderful things in this world for us to enjoy. Nearly everyone wants to live longer, if they were to choose. Looking back to the past, our ancestors lived relatively shorter lives -- with only a few people living beyond the age of 40. However, since a century ago, human’s life span has increased greatly. The mortality rates among those over 80 years have decreased by about 1.5% per year since 1960s (Vaupel, 2010). At the same time, the maximum life span, the largest number of years a mankind has lived, is expected to be increased over years. The truth is, living longer is not a pipe dream anymore. Nevertheless, a long healthy life is not a coincidence. The lengthening of mankind’s life expectancy could be brought about by a host of reasons and there are several far-reaching consequences.