This paper is significant because it finds a precise molecular mechanism whereby reduced telomere function affects organ health. From the article, "We demonst

This paper is significant because it finds a precise molecular mechanism whereby reduced telomere function affects organ health. From the article, "We demonstrate that telomere dysfunction activates p53 which in turn binds and represses PGC-1α and PGC-1β promoters, thereby forging a direct link between telomere and mitochondrial biology. We propose that this telomere–p53–PGC axis contributes to organ and metabolic failure and to diminishing organismal fitness in the setting of telomere dysfunction." Physorg isn't the most reputable science journalism around (heh), but Nature is arguably the most prestigious journal for life science in the world, and everybody involved in the process of publishing this paper, and writing the News & Views article about it, is aware of Elizabeth Blackburn and telomere research. The more we know about the pathways involved, the more avenues we have for drug development.