Development and Longevity: Cellular and Molecular Determinants - A Mini-Review

Abstract

Across species, development and longevity are tightly linked. We discuss the relevant literature and suggest that the root for this stringent relationship is the rate of development. The basis for the relationship between rate of development and longevity lies in adaptations that have occurred through evolution at multiple levels of biological complexity: organism, organ, cellular, and molecular. Thus, the analysis of the relationship is of interest for multiple fields of biology.

Keywords: Aging; Caloric restriction; DNA damage; Development; Growth rate; IGF-1; Longevity; Senescence; Telomere.