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Review
. 2012 May;67(5):495-502.
doi: 10.1093/gerona/gls082. Epub 2012 Mar 28.

Genes against aging

Richard A Miller  1
Affiliations
Review

Genes against aging

Richard A Miller. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012 May.

Abstract

Individual mutations in mice can slow aging: They extend life span by retarding a wide range of harmful, age-dependent changes in multiple cells and tissues. Evolutionary changes-by definition, changes in DNA sequence-can lead to even more dramatic postponement of age-dependent deterioration. Genetic variation within a species, for example among breeds of dogs, can also lead to major changes in aging rate, although there is not yet any strong evidence for similar genetic variation that modulates aging in rodents or humans. This essay compares different strategies for using genetic information to clarify questions in biogerontology, suggesting an emphasis on genes that can retard multiple forms of age-dependent dysfunction in parallel.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Scatterplots showing maximum recorded life span versus resistance of skin-derived fibroblast cells to toxic levels of cadmium. Y-axis shows LD50 (micromoles per liter), that is, the dose of cadmium needed to kill 50% of the cells. Left panel: eight species of rodents, with one species of bat (life span = 34 years) included for comparison, from (47). Right panel: 35 species of birds from temperate climate zone, from (48). Note changes in y-axis scale: The most resistant of the bird species has LD50 ∼400 μM compared with <80 μM for rodents and the bat species tested.
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