Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose
Abstract Background Theories of ageing predict a trade-off between metabolism, reproduction, and maintenance. Species with low investment in early reproduction are thus expected to be able to evolve more efficient maintenance and repair mechanisms, allowing for a longer potential life span (intrinsi...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:151281a371c34376b223a45397b0ea1a 2023-05-15T15:39:24+02:00 Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose Pauliny Angela Larsson Kjell Blomqvist Donald 2012-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-257 https://doaj.org/article/151281a371c34376b223a45397b0ea1a EN eng BMC http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/12/257 https://doaj.org/toc/1471-2148 doi:10.1186/1471-2148-12-257 1471-2148 https://doaj.org/article/151281a371c34376b223a45397b0ea1a BMC Evolutionary Biology, Vol 12, Iss 1, p 257 (2012) Individual telomere rate of change Longitudinal data Rate of ageing Senescence Survival Telomere maintenance Evolution QH359-425 article 2012 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-257 2022-12-31T16:16:10Z Abstract Background Theories of ageing predict a trade-off between metabolism, reproduction, and maintenance. Species with low investment in early reproduction are thus expected to be able to evolve more efficient maintenance and repair mechanisms, allowing for a longer potential life span (intrinsic longevity). The erosion of telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of linear chromosomes, plays an important role in cellular and organismal senescence, signalling the onset of age-related disease due to accumulation of unrepaired somatic damage. Using extensive longitudinal data from a long-term study of a natural population of barnacle geese Branta leucopsis , we investigated individual rates of telomere length changes over two years in 34 birds between 0 and 22 years of age, covering almost 80% of the species’ lifespan. Results We show that telomeres in this long-lived bird are very well maintained, as theoretically expected, with an average loss rate of only 5 base pairs per year among adults. We thus found no significant relationship between change in telomere length and age. However, telomeres tended to shorten at a faster pace in juveniles compared to adults. For the first time, we demonstrate a faster telomere attrition rate in females compared to males. We found no correlation between telomere loss rate and adult survival or change in body mass. Conclusions Our results add further support for a link between longevity and telomere maintenance, and highlight the complexities of telomere dynamics in natural populations. Article in Journal/Newspaper Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles BMC Evolutionary Biology 12 1 257 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Individual telomere rate of change Longitudinal data Rate of ageing Senescence Survival Telomere maintenance Evolution QH359-425 |
spellingShingle |
Individual telomere rate of change Longitudinal data Rate of ageing Senescence Survival Telomere maintenance Evolution QH359-425 Pauliny Angela Larsson Kjell Blomqvist Donald Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose |
topic_facet |
Individual telomere rate of change Longitudinal data Rate of ageing Senescence Survival Telomere maintenance Evolution QH359-425 |
description |
Abstract Background Theories of ageing predict a trade-off between metabolism, reproduction, and maintenance. Species with low investment in early reproduction are thus expected to be able to evolve more efficient maintenance and repair mechanisms, allowing for a longer potential life span (intrinsic longevity). The erosion of telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of linear chromosomes, plays an important role in cellular and organismal senescence, signalling the onset of age-related disease due to accumulation of unrepaired somatic damage. Using extensive longitudinal data from a long-term study of a natural population of barnacle geese Branta leucopsis , we investigated individual rates of telomere length changes over two years in 34 birds between 0 and 22 years of age, covering almost 80% of the species’ lifespan. Results We show that telomeres in this long-lived bird are very well maintained, as theoretically expected, with an average loss rate of only 5 base pairs per year among adults. We thus found no significant relationship between change in telomere length and age. However, telomeres tended to shorten at a faster pace in juveniles compared to adults. For the first time, we demonstrate a faster telomere attrition rate in females compared to males. We found no correlation between telomere loss rate and adult survival or change in body mass. Conclusions Our results add further support for a link between longevity and telomere maintenance, and highlight the complexities of telomere dynamics in natural populations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Pauliny Angela Larsson Kjell Blomqvist Donald |
author_facet |
Pauliny Angela Larsson Kjell Blomqvist Donald |
author_sort |
Pauliny Angela |
title |
Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose |
title_short |
Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose |
title_full |
Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose |
title_fullStr |
Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose |
title_full_unstemmed |
Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose |
title_sort |
telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-257 https://doaj.org/article/151281a371c34376b223a45397b0ea1a |
genre |
Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis |
genre_facet |
Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis |
op_source |
BMC Evolutionary Biology, Vol 12, Iss 1, p 257 (2012) |
op_relation |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/12/257 https://doaj.org/toc/1471-2148 doi:10.1186/1471-2148-12-257 1471-2148 https://doaj.org/article/151281a371c34376b223a45397b0ea1a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-257 |
container_title |
BMC Evolutionary Biology |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
257 |
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1766371084000559104 |