CENTROMERIC AND TELOMERIC REPEATS ARE STABLE IN NONAGENARIANS AS REVEALED BY THE DOUBLE HYBRIDIZATION FLUORESCENT IN-SITU TECHNIQUE

We report a simple method for simultaneous identification of centromer ic and telomeric repeat sequences of human chromosomes. Employing this technique, we investigated the stability of centromeres and telomeres in individuals over 90 years of age and compared them with younger co ntrols (<40 years). Our findings suggest that centromeric and telomeri c repeats remain apparently stable in nonagenarians. These findings ar e enigmatic because it has been suggested that centromeres are lost in older individuals. Furthermore, telomeric shortening has been observe d in aged lymphocytes and cellular senescence. However, stability of t elomeric repeats noted in nonagenarians may be masked by loss followed by compensation by a process called telomeric elongation.