Telomerase in Mammals Versus Deacopods, and its’ Effect on Cancer
By Cadence Gant
The following paper will delve into a detail description of telomerase and its
effects on cancer in the family of homosapiens versus the decapod family. Currently,
the vast majority of multi–celled organisms only contain telomerase in a specific few
cells, such as stem cells. This specialization leads to the depletion of telomeres in other
cells that do not have access to telomerase, though this is not the case for a few
specific creatures. A scientific study has found that in a certain species of lobsters
(specifically Homarus americanus) and other decapods not only produce telomerase in
most of their cells, but also well into their adult lifespan, not just in their juvenile or
embryonic stages like other multi–cellular organisms. This enables this species of
lobster to possibly live for several centuries, easily out living many mammals. This
paper will discuss in detail about the lobster ability to produce this enzyme throughout
life as well as the possibilities that it may have for human kind if scientist are able to
duplicate this process and the benefits for future cancer research, as even though the
decapod family displays large amount of telomere, decapods have an extremely low
risk of developing any type or strain cancer.
In order to grow and age, our bodies must duplicate cells. During mitosis, cells
make copies of their genetic material. In order to make sure information is correctly
shared during the copying phase, each chromosome has a special protective cap called
a telomere located at the end of the chromosome. Specifically, “ telomeres are a
Telomerase in Mammals Versus Deacopods, and its’ Effect on Cancer
By Cadence Gant
special functional complex at the end of linear eukaryotic chromosomes, consisting of
tandem repeat DNA sequences and associated proteins. It is essential for maintaining
the integrity and stability of linear eukaryotic genomes” (Cong,2002). Telomeres can be
controlled by the presence of the enzyme telomerase which is responsible for
maintenance of the length of telomeres by addition of guanine-rich repetitive sequences
to the end of the telomeres in order to replenish what has been lost during the division.
This had led to very few cells in multi–celled mammals (specifically humans for the
context of the paper) containing telomerase as most of the cells have become
specialized in order to preform select functions in the body more proficiently.
