Telomere Length Testing

Telomere length testing has become a thing because of the role telomeres play in the aging of cells and the body. But, should you buy one of the telomere testing kits?

Telomeres are caps of junk DNA at the ends of chromosomes that protected the genetic information of the chromosomes. Each time a cell divides the telomeres get shorter.

Once the telomeres are shortened to a certain length the cell can no longer divide and leads to the aging and death of the cell.

Science has been directed toward’s the use of telomere length as a commercial biomarker for aging and disease, and telomere testing kits have been made available for personal usage.

Peter Lanscorp’s company, Repeat Diagnostics, was the first company to offer commercial telomere testing. He does feel commercial testing is of little use to the public and recommends against people getting their telomeres tested unless there are family genetics at play that my point to a telomere problem.

The Public wouldn’t understand how to understand how to use the results in context.