The chromosomes of finches born from older fathers have traits associated with a shorter life expectancy than the finches conceived by younger dads, revealed a new study published online in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B . The findings may help researchers better understand the association between father’s age and children’s longevity in humans.

Researchers looked at the telomeres of zebra finch embryos conceived by either young or older male finches. Telomeres are often referred to as the “caps” at the end of our DNA. They protect our chromosomes from damage during cell division. Telomere length is a good indication of longevity, as when they get too short cells that can no longer function properly. Read More…