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Telomere dynamics in the Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) : an investigation into the effects of age, tissue type, location and time of sampling
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 11:35 authored by Godwin, R, Brown, I, Montgomery, S, Stewart FrusherStewart Frusher, Green, T, Ovenden, JAbstract Telomere length has been purported as a biomarker for age and could offer a non-lethal method for determining the age of wild-caught individuals. Molluscs, including oysters and abalone, are the basis of important fisheries globally and have been problematic to accurately age. To determine whether telomere length could provide an alternative means of ageing molluscs, we evaluated the relationship between telomere length and age using the commercially important Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata). Telomere lengths were estimated from tissues of known age individuals from different age classes, locations and at different sampling times. Telomere length tended to decrease with age only in young oysters less than 18 months old, but no decrease was observed in older oysters aged 2–4 years. Regional and temporal differences in telomere attrition rates were also observed. The relationship between telomere length and age was weak, however, with individuals of identical age varying significantly in their telomere length making it an imprecise age biomarker in oysters.
History
Publication title
Marine BiologyVolume
159Pagination
77-86ISSN
0025-3162Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Springer-VerlagPlace of publication
175 Fifth Ave, New York, USA, Ny, 10010Rights statement
Copyright 2011 Her Majesty the Queen in Rights of AustraliaRepository Status
- Restricted