Correction: Telomerase Is Required for Zebrafish Lifespan.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.

Telomeres in aging and disease: lessons from zebrafish.

Age is the highest risk factor for some of the most prevalent human diseases, including cancer. Telomere shortening is thought to play a central role in the aging process in humans. The link between telomeres and aging is highlighted by the fact that genetic diseases causing telomerase deficiency are associated with premature aging and increased risk of cancer.

Short Telomeres in Key Tissues Initiate Local and Systemic Aging in Zebrafish.

Telomeres shorten with each cell division and telomere dysfunction is a recognized hallmark of aging. Tissue proliferation is expected to dictate the rate at which telomeres shorten. We set out to test whether proliferative tissues age faster than non-proliferative due to telomere shortening during zebrafish aging.

Telomerase is required for zebrafish lifespan.

Telomerase activity is restricted in humans. Consequentially, telomeres shorten in most cells throughout our lives. Telomere dysfunction in vertebrates has been primarily studied in inbred mice strains with very long telomeres that fail to deplete telomeric repeats during their lifetime.