CardioExchange Archive

Coronary patients with high levels of omega-3 fatty acid levels in their blood have a lower rate of telomere shortening, according to a new study in JAMA. The study bring together two very different strands of research. In one strand, the shortening of telomeres, the protective caps of DNA at the end of chromosomes, has been closely tied to cellular aging. In the second strand, many epidemiologic studies have found cardiovascular benefits in people with high intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

Nobel Laureate and longtime NHLBI researcher Marshall Nirenberg died at age 82. Following up on the work of Watson and Crick, Nirenberg received the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his seminal work showing how DNA gets translated into proteins. “We found that all species, all forms of life on this planet use the same language, molecular language,” said Nirenberg in an interview. “We compared the code in bacteria to the language used in an amphibian, to a mammal and found that it’s the same language. . . . You can look at trees, flowers, squirrels, birds and you know that we’re all related.” A few resources: a statement from the NHLBI, a Washington Post obituary, and a story in The Scientist.