Harsh life of Romanian orphans damaged their DNA
July 5, 2011 – 7:51 pmHardships early in life may prematurely age a child’s DNA, which may ultimately shorten life span, according to a new study.
The results showed that children who spent their early childhoods in Romanian orphanages had shorter telomeres — caps on the tips of chromosomes — than expected for their age. Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from damage, and early shortening of telomeres may lead to a reduction in life span, the researchers say.
The study is the first to link early childhood adversity with shorter telomeres in children, though previous work has found a link in adults.
It’s unclear what the results mean for the children’s future health. Ear
Tags: Dna
Casey Anthony, left, mother of missing 3-year-old Caylee Marie Anthony, in 2008.The idea of a mother killing her child both sickens society, and yet fascinates us, too. Perhaps this is why the world has been caught up — obsessed, some might say — with the Casey Anthony case that’s being played out in a Florida courtroom.