Developemental apects of cells: Aging Flashcards
Telomerase
prevents telomeres from degrading
What are telomeres
End caps on chromosomes
The basis behind this theory is that segments of DNA that occur at the end of chromosomes, called telomeres, determine the maximum lifespan of a cell.
Genetic theory
what is the genetic theory
proposees that aging is prgroammed by genes
What is the mitochondrial theory
proposes that accumulation of damage to mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leads to aging of humans and animals.
__________ are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules.
free radicals
What is the free radical theory
states that organisms age because cells accumulate free radical damage over time. A free radical is any atom or molecule that has a single unpaired electron in an outer shell.
What is aging
A complex process caused by a variety of factors
