Number of base pairs in telomeres lost by normal somatic cells

Range 50 to 200 bp/cell division
Organism Eukaryotes
Reference Babizhayev MA, Vishnyakova KS, Yegorov YE. Telomere-dependent senescent phenotype of lens epithelial cells as a biological marker of aging and cataractogenesis: the role of oxidative stress intensity and specific mechanism of phospholipid hydroperoxide toxicity in lens and aqueous. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2011 Apr25(2):139-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-8206.2010.00829.x. p.141 right column 2nd paragraphPubMed ID20412312
Primary Source Wright WE, Piatyszek MA, Rainey WE, Byrd W, Shay JW. Telomerase activity in human germline and embryonic tissues and cells. Dev Genet. 199618(2):173-9. AND Meeker AK, Coffey DS. Telomerase: a promising marker of biological immortality of germ, stem, and cancer cells. A review. Biochemistry (Mosc). 1997 Nov62(11):1323-31. AND Axelrod N. Of telomeres and tumors. Nat Med. 1996 Feb2(2):158-9.PubMed ID8934879, 9467857, 8574955
Comments "Normal somatic cells lose 50–200 bp of their telomeres per cell division because of the ‘end-replication problem’ and eventually become senescent when their telomeres reach a critically shortened length [primary sources]."
Entered by Uri M
ID 109260