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Nature Cell Biology 5, 495 - 496 (2003)
doi:10.1038/ncb0603-495
Reproductive cloning conserves cellular senescence
John M. Sedivy1
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John M. Sedivy is in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
e-mail: John_Sedivy@Brown.edu
Abstract
Telomere shortening resulting from genome replication can trigger cellular senescence. In this issue Clark et al. show that rates of telomere attrition and the consequent replicative potential of cells are conserved during replicative cloning. This implies that these traits are genetically determined and raises interesting questions about their relationship to organismal phenotypes such as cancer, organ failure and ageing.
