Utility of telomere length measurements for age determination of humpback whales

This study examines the applicability of telomere length measurements by quantitative PCR as a tool for minimally invasive age determination of free-ranging cetaceans. We analysed telomere length in skin samples from 28 North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), ranging from 0 to 26 ye...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:NAMMCO Scientific Publications
Main Authors: Morten Tange Olsen, Jooke Robbins, Martine Bérubé, Mary Beth Rew, Per J Palsbøll
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 2014
Subjects:
ageing
telomere
humpback whales
North Atlantic
Megaptera novaeangliae
Ecology
QH540-549.5
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.7557/3.3194
https://doaj.org/article/3757d32d743a4bf0a595fcb53d31e51b
Description
Summary:This study examines the applicability of telomere length measurements by quantitative PCR as a tool for minimally invasive age determination of free-ranging cetaceans. We analysed telomere length in skin samples from 28 North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), ranging from 0 to 26 years of age. The results suggested a significant correlation between telomere length and age in humpback whales. However, telomere length was highly variable among individuals of similar age, suggesting that telomere length measured by quantitative PCR is an imprecise determinant of age in humpback whales. The observed variation in individual telomere length was found to be a function of both experimental and biological variability, with the latter perhaps reflecting patterns of inheritance, resource allocation trade-offs, and stochasticity of the marine environment.

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