Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Examination of the Telomere G-overhang Structure in Trypanosoma brucei
Published on: January 26, 2011
State of the Science: Using Telomeres as Biomarkers During the First 1,000 Days of Life
Sarah Oerther1, Rebecca Lorenz1
11 Saint Louis University, MO, USA.
Abstract:
Telomere biology shows promise as an integrative biomarker of exposures and increased occurrence of chronic disease and early mortality. This integrative review examined the state of the science regarding toxicokinetic risks and maternal factors in humans and in vivo models that are correlated with telomere length during the first 1,000 days of life. The Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework assisted in guiding this integrative by aiding researchers in identifying, selecting, and critically appraising the literature. Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases were searched. The initial search yielded a total of 381 published articles. Full-text screening resulted in 19 articles retained for review (14 quasi-experimental studies and five experimental studies). Findings suggest a relationship between toxicokinetic exposures creating inflammation or oxidative stress (i.e., smoking) and maternal health conditions such as sleep apnea to shorter telomere length in children below 2 years old.
Related Concept Videos
Telomeres and Telomerase
Telomeres and Telomerase
Half-life of a Reaction
Characteristics of Life
Psychology as a Science
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...
The Angiosperm Life Cycle

