Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin, volume 74, issue 4, pages 189-193

The Immortality of the Germ Line: The Neverending Story

Publication typeJournal Article
Publication date2019-10-01
Quartile SCImago
Q4
Quartile WOS
Impact factor
ISSN00963925, 1934791X
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
General Environmental Science
Abstract
This is a short review concerning the problem of germ line “immortality,” which was already formulated by A. Weismann at the end of the 19th century. Over the following years, it attracted the attention of many gerontologists, who tried to understand the mechanisms of infinite transfer of genetic information from generation to generation with the help of germ cells, which, in contrast to somatic cells, avoid aging in this way. However, it remained unclear how the germ cells of women, which are in fact a population of non-dividing cells (it is similar to stationary phase aging non-subcultured cell culture), provide the mentioned immortality of the germ line. Distinguished Russian gerontologist Zh.A. Medvedev, who passed away recently, published in 1981 his brilliant work “On the Immortality of the Germ Line: Genetic and Biochemical Mechanisms. A Review,” the main points of which are relevant up to today. His paper just discusses the possible mechanisms of such “immortality.” They are analyzed in detail in the current article and can be reduced mainly to the existence of a number of barriers that, in most cases, do not allow progeny to emerge from “old” germ cells (although certain “rejuvenating” processes in the gametes still go). Therefore, children are “born young.” Some alternative approaches to explaining the immortality of the germ line are also considered. Special attention is paid to the “parental age effect” and the role of eggs and sperm cells in this phenomenon.

Citations by journals

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Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin
Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin, 4, 66.67%
Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin
4 publications, 66.67%
Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 16. Biologiya
Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 16. Biologiya, 2, 33.33%
Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 16. Biologiya
2 publications, 33.33%
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Citations by publishers

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Pleiades Publishing
Pleiades Publishing, 4, 66.67%
Pleiades Publishing
4 publications, 66.67%
Moscow University Press
Moscow University Press, 2, 33.33%
Moscow University Press
2 publications, 33.33%
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2
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4
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GOST Copy
Khokhlov A. N. The Immortality of the Germ Line: The Neverending Story // Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin. 2019. Vol. 74. No. 4. pp. 189-193.
GOST all authors (up to 50) Copy
Khokhlov A. N. The Immortality of the Germ Line: The Neverending Story // Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin. 2019. Vol. 74. No. 4. pp. 189-193.
RIS |
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RIS Copy
TY - JOUR
DO - 10.3103/S0096392519040059
UR - https://doi.org/10.3103%2FS0096392519040059
TI - The Immortality of the Germ Line: The Neverending Story
T2 - Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin
AU - Khokhlov, A N
PY - 2019
DA - 2019/10/01 00:00:00
PB - Pleiades Publishing
SP - 189-193
IS - 4
VL - 74
SN - 0096-3925
SN - 1934-791X
ER -
BibTex |
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BibTex Copy
@article{2019_Khokhlov
author = {A N Khokhlov},
title = {The Immortality of the Germ Line: The Neverending Story},
journal = {Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin},
year = {2019},
volume = {74},
publisher = {Pleiades Publishing},
month = {oct},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3103%2FS0096392519040059},
number = {4},
pages = {189--193},
doi = {10.3103/S0096392519040059}
}
MLA
Cite this
MLA Copy
Khokhlov, A. N.. “The Immortality of the Germ Line: The Neverending Story.” Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin, vol. 74, no. 4, Oct. 2019, pp. 189-193. https://doi.org/10.3103%2FS0096392519040059.
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