NB. Please note that if you are outside North America, the
embargo for LANCET press material is 0001 hours UK Time 13
February 2004. An observational study in this week's issue of
The Lancet sheds more light on the theory that ageing is
associated with a shortening of chromosomes in somatic (ie. non-
reproductive) cells. Results of the study suggest that the gene
responsible for telomere shortening is inherited via the X
chromosome. Previous research including a 2003 Lancet paper
(Lancet 2003; 361: 393-95) has shown that the relative length of
the ends of chromosomes (telomeres) is associated with age-
related illness and mortality (shorter telomeres being
associated with increased age-related illness and earlier
death). Furthermore, on the basis of studies among twins,
telomere length seems to be inheritable, but little is known
about its mode of inheritance. Jan A Staessen from the
University of Leuven, Belgium, and colleagues measured telomere
length in white-blood-cell DNA taken from people already
enrolled