Yes, blood cells do have telomeres.
Telomeres are protective caps at the end of our chromosomes that protect our DNA. The provided reference specifically mentions telomere length in white blood cells.
Telomere Length in White Blood Cells
The length of telomeres in white blood cells varies significantly depending on age:
- Newborns: Telomeres are approximately 8,000 base pairs long.
- Adults: Telomere length decreases to around 3,000 base pairs.
- Elderly: Telomeres can shorten to as little as 1,500 base pairs.
An entire chromosome has about 150 million base pairs. Each time a cell divides, it loses 30 to 200 base pairs from its telomeres. This shortening is a normal part of aging.
