Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
11:44
Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Trauma on Cellular Aging
Published on: March 22, 2024
2.9K
Maternal Telomere Length and Its Influence on Neonatal Parameters: A Potential Tool for Prenatal Screening
Razvan Nitu1,2, Tiberiu Dragomir3, Simona-Alina Abu-Awwad1,2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|October 29, 2025
Summary
Maternal telomere length (TL) is linked to better newborn health. Longer maternal telomeres correlate with higher birth weight, length, and Apgar scores, suggesting TL
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Genetics
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Maternal telomere length (TL) is a potential biomarker for biological aging and pregnancy outcomes.
- Limited data exists on maternal TL in Central and Eastern European populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal TL and neonatal parameters in a healthy cohort.
- To assess TL as a potential biomarker for perinatal risk.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study of 134 mother-infant pairs.
- Maternal blood samples collected for relative TL measurement via quantitative PCR.
- Neonatal outcomes included birth weight, length, head circumference, gestational age, and Apgar scores.
Main Results:
- Longer maternal TL positively correlated with birth weight, length, head circumference, gestational age, and Apgar scores.
- Shorter maternal TL independently predicted suboptimal 1-minute Apgar scores (adjusted OR: 0.68).
Conclusions:
- Maternal TL is strongly associated with neonatal growth and vitality.
- Maternal TL shows potential as a non-invasive biomarker for perinatal risk assessment.
Related Concept Videos
02:15Replicative Cell Senescence
4.3K
Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds...
4.3K
02:41Telomeres and Telomerase
26.8K
In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded...
26.8K
02:59Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
9.0K
Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...
9.0K