Project Details
Description
Telomeres are parts at the end of the chromosomes that protect them from incomplete replication. Generally telomeres shorten at each cell-division, and when they become too short the cell goes into senescence. In fact, over time cells may acquire faults in the DNA or other cell components, potentially resulting in unrestricted cell-proliferation and even cancer. When telomeres become too short, the cell goes in apoptosis, to prevent this. So, telomere length may be a molecular clock to regulate the aging of cells and individuals. Oxidative stress, however, may increase telomere shortening, resulting in premature ageing of the cells. It is reported that exposure to environmental pollution may result in telomere shortening, although the link with oxidative stress remains to be established. Due to increase in urbanization, related to increases in the world population, several avian wildlife species become more urbanized, occupying habitats in man-made environments. As a result, these species may be exposed to higher levels of contamination and potential artificial telomere shortening, with impact on their health. In fact, telomeres could also be involved in regulation of expression of the closed genes, through a mechanism called Telomere Position Effect (TPE). The TPE described that due to a different diffusion of heterochromatin in relation to the length of the telomere, genes closer the end of the chromosome can be affected by, being more expressed when the telomere becomes short (and heterochromatic becomes less). Some genes involved in behaviour, which are relatively close to the telomeres, could be affected by this phenomenon, potentially validating the ‘selective adoption hypothesis’, whereby individuals with shorter telomeres are more likely to adopt specific behaviour patterns. This is supported by several studies which showed that the majority of the variation in telomere length occurs very early in life, providing little opportunity for adult behaviour to substantially impact telomere length. This effect could altered behaviours of the urban birds compared to rural ones, with a consequent impact on their reproductive success.
Status | Active |
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Effective start/end date | 1/09/21 → … |
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