Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Standard

Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals. / Pepke, Michael L.

In: BioEssays, Vol. 46, No. 2, 2300187, 2024.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Pepke, ML 2024, 'Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals', BioEssays, vol. 46, no. 2, 2300187. https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202300187

APA

Pepke, M. L. (2024). Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals. BioEssays, 46(2), [2300187]. https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202300187

Vancouver

Pepke ML. Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals. BioEssays. 2024;46(2). 2300187. https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202300187

Author

Pepke, Michael L. / Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals. In: BioEssays. 2024 ; Vol. 46, No. 2.

Bibtex

@article{9626ad8214654ca6ab748c142ac2067d,
title = "Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals",
abstract = "Telomeres are short repetitive DNA sequences capping the ends of chromosomes. Telomere shortening occurs during cell division and may be accelerated by oxidative damage or ameliorated by telomere maintenance mechanisms. Consequently, telomere length changes with age, which was recently confirmed in a large meta-analysis across vertebrates. However, based on the correlation between telomere length and age, it was concluded that telomere length can be used as a tool for chronological age estimation in animals. Correlation should not be confused with predictability, and the current data and studies suggest that telomeres cannot be used to reliably predict individual chronological age. There are biological reasons for why there is large individual variation in telomere dynamics, which is mainly due to high susceptibility to a wide range of environmental, but also genetic factors, rendering telomeres unfeasible as a tool for age estimation. The use of telomeres for chronological age estimation is largely a misguided effort, but its occasional reappearance in the literature raises concerns that it will mislead resources in wildlife conservation.",
keywords = "age determination, biomarker, chronological age, comparative analysis, conservation, meta-analysis, telomere dynamics",
author = "Pepke, {Michael L.}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.",
year = "2024",
doi = "10.1002/bies.202300187",
language = "English",
volume = "46",
journal = "BioEssays",
issn = "0265-9247",
publisher = "Wiley",
number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals

AU - Pepke, Michael L.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Telomeres are short repetitive DNA sequences capping the ends of chromosomes. Telomere shortening occurs during cell division and may be accelerated by oxidative damage or ameliorated by telomere maintenance mechanisms. Consequently, telomere length changes with age, which was recently confirmed in a large meta-analysis across vertebrates. However, based on the correlation between telomere length and age, it was concluded that telomere length can be used as a tool for chronological age estimation in animals. Correlation should not be confused with predictability, and the current data and studies suggest that telomeres cannot be used to reliably predict individual chronological age. There are biological reasons for why there is large individual variation in telomere dynamics, which is mainly due to high susceptibility to a wide range of environmental, but also genetic factors, rendering telomeres unfeasible as a tool for age estimation. The use of telomeres for chronological age estimation is largely a misguided effort, but its occasional reappearance in the literature raises concerns that it will mislead resources in wildlife conservation.

AB - Telomeres are short repetitive DNA sequences capping the ends of chromosomes. Telomere shortening occurs during cell division and may be accelerated by oxidative damage or ameliorated by telomere maintenance mechanisms. Consequently, telomere length changes with age, which was recently confirmed in a large meta-analysis across vertebrates. However, based on the correlation between telomere length and age, it was concluded that telomere length can be used as a tool for chronological age estimation in animals. Correlation should not be confused with predictability, and the current data and studies suggest that telomeres cannot be used to reliably predict individual chronological age. There are biological reasons for why there is large individual variation in telomere dynamics, which is mainly due to high susceptibility to a wide range of environmental, but also genetic factors, rendering telomeres unfeasible as a tool for age estimation. The use of telomeres for chronological age estimation is largely a misguided effort, but its occasional reappearance in the literature raises concerns that it will mislead resources in wildlife conservation.

KW - age determination

KW - biomarker

KW - chronological age

KW - comparative analysis

KW - conservation

KW - meta-analysis

KW - telomere dynamics

U2 - 10.1002/bies.202300187

DO - 10.1002/bies.202300187

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38047504

AN - SCOPUS:85178391495

VL - 46

JO - BioEssays

JF - BioEssays

SN - 0265-9247

IS - 2

M1 - 2300187

ER -

ID: 375972036