Lobsters, telomerase, and aging

Telomerase activity has been detected in tissues of the American lobster; the enzyme helps maintain telomeres. This may support long-term cell proliferation, but it does not make lobsters immortal or prove that they necessarily grow stronger with age. Lobsters molt, and molting takes energy and becomes riskier for large individuals; death cannot be explained simply by a “too-heavy shell.” [1–3]