The environmental and genetic determinants of chick telomere length in Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor).

ABSTRACT: Conditions during early life can have dramatic effects on adult characteristics and fitness. However, we still know little about the mechanisms that mediate these relationships. Telomere shortening is one possibility. Telomeres are long sequences of DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes. They shorten naturally throughout an individual's life, and individuals with short telomeres tend to have poorer health and reduced survival. Given this connection between telomere length (TL) and fitness, natural selection should favor individuals that are able to retain longer telomeres for a greater portion of their lives. However, the ability of natural selection to act on TL depends on the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence TL. In this study, we experimentally enlarged broo

SUBMITTER: Belmaker A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6662556 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature