Final answer:
The expansion of triple repeats typically results in the silencing of genes rather than telomere shortening, tumor suppressor activation, or stimulation of DNA repair mechanisms. Aging is associated with diminished DNA repair, which contributes to age-related diseases. Telomere shortening is related to aging but is not the direct cause of age-related diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expansion of triple repeats that causes disease typically leads to a massive expansion that can result in the silencing of a gene, impacting its function which could be critical for processes such as DNA repair. This genetic expansion has been associated with certain neurodegenerative diseases and developmental disorders. Notably, it does not lead to shortening of telomeres, activation of tumor suppressor genes directly, or the induction of DNA repair mechanisms in a protective response.
Aging does affect DNA repair mechanisms negatively, leading to the propagation of errors in the DNA. As cells and tissues age, their ability to repair these errors diminishes, and this can contribute to the onset of age-related diseases.
In terms of telomere shortening, while this is related to aging and cellular senescence, the link between aging and disease is not due to telomere shortening per se, but rather to a decline in the cell's ability to repair DNA. In cancer, while telomerase activity is a factor in allowing cancer cells to continue to divide despite telomere shortening, it is the uncontrolled division and mutation accumulation that are the hallmarks of the disease.