TERT and anemia (phenotype): We discovered that LARP7 knockdown induces progressive time-dependent telomere shortening concomitant with a reduction in telomerase enzymatic activity and a decrease in full-length (catalytically active) TERT mRNA in vitro, and that humans with LARP7 deficiency display dramatically short telomeres, borderline anemia in younger generations, and anticipation consistent with a telomeropathy.