2010 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript
This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2010. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.
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What inside your body makes you old, would it be possible for someone or something to reverse the process?
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Emily Edelman, M.S., C.G.C.:
I am a genetic counselor who coordinates multiple projects at a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education in genetics to healthcare providers. I currently work with other genetic counselors, scientists, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, bioethicists, patient advocates, and other health professionals. I also have experience in providing genetic counseling to individuals with a family history of cancer, and other rare and common conditions.
The reason that cells age is because they lose an important DNA element called the telomere over time. The telomeres are pieces of DNA on either end of the DNA strand the protect the DNA from errors. As the cells divide, they slowly lose the telomeres, bit by bit, and the cells become more sensitive to DNA damage.
Many researchers are studying the telomeres, and trying to identify methods to keep the telomere length, but there is no treatment for this at this time. |
| McClesky Middle School in GA (7th grade student) |
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