A reassessment of the telomere hypothesis of senescence.
According to the telomere hypothesis of senescence, the telomeric shortening that accompanies the replication of normal somatic cells acts as the mitotic clock that eventually results in their permanent exit from the cell cycle. Although evidence consistent with the telomere hypothesis continues to accumulate, on the basis of recent findings it is suggested that instead of a single clock mechanism there are multiple inducers of senescence.
Children's Medical Research Institute, Wentworthville, NSW, Australia. rreddel@cmri.usyd.edu.au
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D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*