Meta-analysis of telomere length in 19 713 subjects reveals high heritability, stronger maternal inheritance and a paternal age effect

• Published in: European journal of human genetics : EJHG Vol. 21; no. 10; pp. 1163 - 1168
• Main Authors: Broer, Linda, Codd, Veryan, Nyholt, Dale R, Deelen, Joris, Mangino, Massimo, Willemsen, Gonneke, Albrecht, Eva, Amin, Najaf, Beekman, Marian, de Geus, Eco J C, Henders, Anjali, Nelson, Christopher P, Steves, Claire J, Wright, Margie J, de Craen, Anton J M, Isaacs, Aaron, Matthews, Mary, Moayyeri, Alireza, Montgomery, Grant W, Oostra, Ben A, Vink, Jacqueline M, Spector, Tim D, Slagboom, P Eline, Martin, Nicholas G, Samani, Nilesh J, van Duijn, Cornelia M, Boomsma, Dorret I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Birth; Case-Control Studies; Cell division; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Epidemiology; Estimates; Families & family life; Female; Genetic factors; Genetics; Heredity; Heritability; Humans; Hypertension; Inheritance Patterns; Male; Maternal inheritance; Medical research; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; Mortality; Paternal Age; Pedigree; Population; Progeny; Studies; Telomerase; Telomere - genetics; Telomere Shortening - genetics; Twins; Twins - genetics; Netherlands; United Kingdom > UK; Queensland Australia; United States > US

Telomere length (TL) has been associated with aging and mortality, but individual differences are also influenced by genetic factors, with previous studies reporting heritability estimates ranging from 34 to 82%. Here we investigate the heritability, mode of inheritance and the influence of parental...