In a recent advanced online publication of Genes and Development, scientists from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, US, found out that p63, a gene which appears to be a "master control gene for the skin" may also be fundamental to the ageing process.

The gene p63 was found to accelerate ageing in adult mice when it was "switched off". Symptoms included becoming hunchbacked, losing hair and losing weight. Compared with mice with normal expression of the p63 gene, p63 deficient mice also had 23% shorter life span.

If factors that regulate the p63 gene could be elucidated, these findings could lead to breakthroughs in anti-ageing strategies, skin care and treatment of premature ageing resulting from chemotherapy.

The Genetics and Public Health Blog presents an interesting caveat.