The optimal life expectancy of mammals might be connected to “DNA methylation,” which assists manage the activity of genes. (Image credit: Jamie Grill by means of Getty Images)
Why do typical shrews live for just 2 years, while bowhead whales make it through for 2 centuries? And could the response offer us tips regarding how to extend our own, human life expectancy?
The optimal life expectancy of each types is approximated utilizing the age of its longest-living member, and these differ by orders of magnitude amongst mammals. Now, researchers propose that “epigenetics” might a minimum of partially describe these distinctions. They published their yet-unreviewed findings in November to the preprint database bioRxiv.
While “genes” is the research study of genes, “epigenetics” is the research study of chemical adjustments to genes that improve or restrict their expression, managing which genes are turned on or off. These adjustments have actually long been connected to aging, however the brand-new research study recommends they likewise contribute in identifying optimum age.
One such adjustment is DNA methylation, the addition of particles called methyl groups to cytosine (C), among the 4 “letters” within DNA’s code. Methylation frequently takes place when C sits beside guanine (G) bases at so-called CpG websites in DNA.
