無病無痛,沒有任何交通或人為意外的話,人類是否會進入不死永生狀態呢?542Please respect copyright.PENANApQL3IkBhrx
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答案是,不會。542Please respect copyright.PENANARlm9KDQtTL
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箇中的原因,就是在於染色體亦即是DNA的運作機制之上。542Please respect copyright.PENANAwPTcDt3sSL
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(圖1)正常人體細胞分裂的時候,染色體的長度會越來越短。542Please respect copyright.PENANAXsuAQLz7Zw542Please respect copyright.PENANAFPPbkMc0ka
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(圖2)染色體的頂端區域,我們稱之為Telomere。正常細胞分裂後,Telomere的長度便會越來越短,所以導致染色體的總長度亦會有所減少。542Please respect copyright.PENANAIjf2wxjECz542Please respect copyright.PENANAGcsVKmdlLF
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(圖3)而幹細胞進行分裂的時候,則會有著Telomerase的協助,導致Telomere的長度便並不會有所減少。542Please respect copyright.PENANAhSuMQAh86V
然而,當幹細胞變成正常細胞後,Telomerase的功能便會消失。542Please respect copyright.PENANAJGkv54M3Vs542Please respect copyright.PENANA98RDAutWEA
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(圖4)當Telomere長度削減到一定程度的時候,細胞便會自行啟動機制滅亡,又或者陷入衰老(Senescence)狀態。542Please respect copyright.PENANAf1Bgq6ZQ7I
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細胞滅亡或衰老的話,器官的功能便會衰退,最後亦會支撐不住,無法正常運作,促成死亡。542Please respect copyright.PENANAt4EQCIflwn542Please respect copyright.PENANAIPNW4tDe0Q
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你可能會問,現在科技如此倡明,那麼我們只要學習幹細胞的那一套方式,動用外力重啟Telomerase功能,那不就能踏入永生嗎?542Please respect copyright.PENANAF8aygPYGco
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這個思路並沒有錯,只不過代價就是會增加患癌的風險。542Please respect copyright.PENANAC2m1YhZCu8
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事實上,不少癌細胞的特徵就是Telomere長度非常之短,但又有著一定水平的Telomerase功能穩定維持著Telomere的長度,逃避進入滅亡的命運。542Please respect copyright.PENANAbbepT9BCSc
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另一方面的想,如果細胞真的是踏入「永生」狀態的話,終有一天無可避免會累積各種的DNA變異,促成癌細胞的誕生。542Please respect copyright.PENANANFiBcHo583
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(圖5)既然Telomere對細胞的壽命有著重要影響的話,那麼一些較為長壽的物種是否擁有較長的Telomere呢?542Please respect copyright.PENANAtEcesELP13
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科學家比較各物種的Telomere後(Ref1),發現海豚的起始Telomere長度比人類高出6倍以上,但壽命長度始終是人類佔優。542Please respect copyright.PENANAentJcHjKlz542Please respect copyright.PENANAj9G2LqUjW5
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反而,決定物種壽命長度的其中一種因素,則是Telomere衰減的速度;542Please respect copyright.PENANAx1CECZ2lG1
Telomere衰減的速度只是一個參考性的指標,並非絕對。物種的大小、新陳代謝機制的不同等等均會對壽命長度有著影響。542Please respect copyright.PENANA7FfIcTPG2B
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人類每年約會減少71單位Telomere的長度,最高壽命為120歲。542Please respect copyright.PENANARefNHptF55
而老鼠每年會減少7000單位Telomere長度,最高壽命為5歲。542Please respect copyright.PENANAPH2Ws0ThZV
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人類:每年減少71;120歲542Please respect copyright.PENANAxpvRYHd87g
大象:每年減少109;66歲542Please respect copyright.PENANA7aPokD9OlQ
紅鸛:每年減少105;60歲542Please respect copyright.PENANAQWlbEl0CRF
海豚:每年減少766;52歲542Please respect copyright.PENANA88B9y7hV2r
兀鷲:每年減少209;41歲542Please respect copyright.PENANAT7sjVxa8f0
海鷗:每年減少771;25歲542Please respect copyright.PENANAEasXbkZasl
馴鹿:每年減少531;22歲542Please respect copyright.PENANAAD1yhb2IVM
山羊:每年減少363;21歲542Please respect copyright.PENANA2PoCDRMqtn
老鼠:每年減少7000;5歲542Please respect copyright.PENANAwN4RIdq6ld
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龜又是每年減少幾多呢?有待有心人發掘。542Please respect copyright.PENANAqnpWcv8Bo3
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https://www.penana.com/user/27349/%E8%96%AF%E4%BB%94%E8%81%9E%E8%8C%B1%E8%8E%89/portfolio542Please respect copyright.PENANAkNOhzcrBOS
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有興趣接收科學資訊的話,歡迎follow IG: potatopigtongue。542Please respect copyright.PENANA3tiXjeU1Wi
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Ref1:https://www.pnas.org/content/116/30/15122542Please respect copyright.PENANAJRvXQ0QsPZ