Synchrony in telomere length of the human fetus.
Telomere length, measured by terminal restriction fragments, was examined in tissues from human fetuses of gestational ages estimated as 15-19 weeks. The length of telomeres was similar in most fetal tissues. However, there were significant variations in telomere length among fetuses, with no apparent relationship between gestational age and telomere length. We conclude that synchrony in telomere length exists among tissues of the human fetus. This synchrony is apparently lost during extrauterine life.
Division of Urology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103, USA.
K
K
Youngren
E
E
Jeanclos
H
H
Aviv
M
M
Kimura
J
J
Stock
M
M
Hanna
J
J
Skurnick
A
A
Bardeguez
A
A
Aviv
D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003720:Densitometry; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure