In today’s open access paper, researchers note that the characteristic loss of maintainance of heterochromatin structure that occurs with age appears sufficient to produce signatures of aging in female germline cells, oocytes, accompanied by a rising level of transposon activity. Along with thymic involution, loss of function in female germline cells is one of the more rapid aspects of aging. This is the subject of a range of research programs, investigating the causes, and potential means of addressing the issue, ranging from tissue engineered ovaries to the usual…
Heterochromatin Loss and Transposon Activity in the Aging Female Germline
In today’s open access paper, researchers note that the characteristic loss of maintainance of heterochromatin structure that occurs with age appears sufficient to produce signatures of aging in female germline cells, oocytes, accompanied by a rising level of transposon activity. Along with thymic involution, loss of function in female germline cells is one of the more rapid aspects of aging. This is the subject of a range of research programs, investigating the causes, and potential means of addressing the issue, ranging from tissue engineered ovaries to the usual…