Benno Strauss with unidentified family members; Edel-Str. 6, Würzburg.

Verso: handwritten correspondence

Portrait of brothers Moshe Chayim Eliasberg (on left) and Samuel Eliasberg playing chess watched by Moshe's son Mulek Eliasberg Portraits Family

Moshe Chayim Eliasberg died 1920; Samuel Eliasberg died 1929; Mulek Eliasberg, 1886-1942

Portrait of a family and their dog sitting in a park Portraits Family

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Portrait of brother, mother and sister of Max Rieser seated outdoors; Franzensbad Portraits Family

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Schloss and Schoeneberg family portrait on the occasion of the 80th birthday of Jeanette Bildesheim nee Schoeneberg.

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Benno Strauss (far right) with unidentified family members.

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Pedigree of the Jacob family of Stavenhagen, Mecklenburg, Germany.

Family tree and genealogy of Jacob family in Stavenhagen, Mecklenburg, 1690-1975.

Meta-analysis of telomere length in 19 713 subjects reveals high heritability, stronger maternal inheritance and a paternal age effect

Telomere length (TL) has been associated with aging and mortality, but individual differences are also influenced by genetic factors, with previous studies reporting heritability estimates ranging from 34 to 82%. Here we investigate the heritability, mode of inheritance and the influence of parental age at birth on TL in six large, independent cohort studies with a total of 19 713 participants. The meta-analysis estimate of TL heritability was 0.70 (95% CI 0.64–0.76) and is based on a pattern of results that is highly similar for twins and other family members. We observed a stronger mother–offspring (r=0.42; P-value=3.60 × 10−61) than father–offspring correlation (r=0.33; P-value=7.01 × 10−5), and a significant positive association with paternal age at offspring birth (β=0.005; P-value=7.01 × 10−5). Interestingly, a significant and quite substantial correlation in TL between spouses (r=0.25; P-value=2.82 × 10−30) was seen, which appeared stronger in older spouse pairs (mean age ≥55 years; r=0.31; P-value=4.27 × 10−23) than in younger pairs (mean age<55 years; r=0.20; P-value=3.24 × 10−10). In summary, we find a high and very consistent heritability estimate for TL, evidence for a maternal inheritance component and a positive association with paternal age.

Family portrait at double wedding ceremony of the Heimann and Rosenfelder families Portraits; Family

Double Wedding Ceremony Heimann-Rosenfelder August 17, 1909

Painting of Freiherr Martin von Magnus Family Portraits Family

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Achtentuch family portrait; Odessa Portraits Family

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Jacob Picard with daughter Renate Portraits Family

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Studio portrait of Cora Berliner with her mother and sister; Hannover Portraits Family

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Bernstein-Kohlberg Portraits Family

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Valentin family portrait on the occasion of the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Heinrich and Helene Valentin; Berlin Portraits Groups

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