Konečná K, et al. - Given the demonstrated negative impact of extreme and long-term stress on telomeres and their protective function, with even offspring being affected by the stress experienced by parents, researchers evaluated the relative lengths of telomeres of survivors of the Holocaust during World War II and two generations of their offspring using quantitative PCR. They also analyzed control groups of persons of comparable age without a strong life stress experience. In contrast to previous studies of other stress-exposed groups, those exposed to Holocaust-related stress and their progenies and control groups displayed comparable relative lengths of telomeres. Remarkably, Holocaust survivors under the age of 12 years in the year 1945 vs Holocaust survivors over the age of 12 years showed shorter telomeres.