Re-energising the preimplantation embryo to extend lifetime health

老年性疾病与染色体末端称为端粒的缩短有关。个体的端粒长度是在胚胎发育期间确定的，在胚胎发育受到影响的情况下，例如母亲肥胖，端粒延长的正常过程可能不会发生。我们将确定这种胚胎端粒延长的破坏是如何导致成年后健康状况不佳的，并测试恢复自然过程的方法。

Diseases of aging are associated with shortening at the ends of chromosomes called telomeres. The length of an individual’s telomeres is established during embryo development, and in situations where embryo development is compromised such as with maternal obesity the normal process of telomere lengthening may not occur. We will determine how such disruptions in embryo telomere lengthening contribute to poor health in adulthood and test ways to restore the natural process.