Aging Genes Identified

Filed in archive Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics on July 28, 2005

...in worms, at least. Using RNAi screening, researchers have identified 23 new longevity genes by screening the genome of Caenorhabditis elegans, a favorite model animal of geneticists. Among the 23 genes that appears to reduce longevity are also involved in insulin signaling, metabolism, and dietary regulation. The authors expect the further study of these genes to provide valuable information about the mechanisms of aging, not only in C. elegans but also in higher organisms. Results are published in the maiden issue of PLoS Genetics.