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closeCommon and logical idea, but perhaps wrong
Posted by dtae on 25 Jul 2011 at 03:13 GMT
telomeres are also thought to be a defense mechanism against cancer, as short telomeres induce senescence and thus inhibit uncontrolled cell proliferation
http://plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0017199#article1.body1.sec1.p1
The idea that shorter telomeres are protective against cancer is common and logically coherent, however the evidence I am aware of seems to suggest that, on balance, shorter telomeres cause INCREASED cancer rates. See for example:
Eisenberg, D. T. A. (2011). "An evolutionary review of human telomere biology: The thrifty telomere hypothesis and notes on potential adaptive paternal effects." American Journal of Human Biology 23(2): 149-167.
and later
Ma, H., Z. Zhou, et al. (2011). "Shortened Telomere Length Is Associated with Increased Risk of Cancer: A Meta-Analysis." PLoS ONE 6(6): e20466.