Recent research has shown that the shortening of telomeres is not irreversible. Provide an overview of the research that provided this insight. Are there any limitations that need to be considered? Include a definition of telomeres in your response
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Telomeres are the tips of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division. In one study, approximately 30 women with cervical cancer were randomly assigned to either a counseling group or a control group that received standard treatment. They were studied over four months and, not surprisingly, the counseling group had better immunity and better quality of life. They also had longer telomeres than they did at the start of the study. Limitations to consider are that this was a small sample of only women with a specific illness. A larger study including men and a wider range of illnesses would be needed to generalize results. In addition, these women were experiencing a high level of stress, which can shorten telomeres, so it is unclear if people who report lower levels of stress would see such a dramatic reversal.
You might also like to view...
Personality psychologists study the interaction of people and the environment
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
The longest phase of prenatal development is the period of
a. the embryo. c. the fetus. b. viability. d. the zygote.
We can say that one measurement is twice as large as another when ________ scales are used
a. ordinal b. nominal c. ratio d. interval
Which statement is true of long-term depression (LTD)?
A. LTD is associated with an increase in the number of AMPA receptors in the postsynaptic neurons. B. LTD reflects a gradual strengthening of synaptic connections. C. LTD is associated with a decrease in the number of AMPA receptors in the postsynaptic neuron. D. LTD can be produced by high-frequency stimulation of CA1 neurons.