Longevity Genes

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A similar method for determining which components of the genome have connections to increased longevity, is to look at the genome of centenarians and look for similarities with other centenarians. This is the method that (The Genetics of Human Longevity) (year) employed when looking for differences between Italian centenarians and the general population of Italy. They looked into the P53 gene, but did not find any specific gene sequence that correlated to increased longevity. However, they did find that Italian centenarians had significantly lower levels of a specific apolipoprotein when compared to the broader Italian community. What is more interesting is the fact that both of these findings came with a catch. With the P53 gene, (The Genetics …show more content…
It has been shown in various studies that reducing an animal’s caloric intake to about half of what is normal has been shown to extend lifespan (Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity Genes), at least it has been shown to be true in mice and dogs. The connections between metabolism and longevity have been well-established both theoretically and through experimentation. It seems that harsh environmental conditions inspire genetic priorities to reorganize and place more importance on survival than other cell processes. Reducing caloric intake simulates mild starvation and therefore creates the harsh environment necessary for focusing on survival. One such trade-off that has been seen in reduced-calorie experiments is the reduced fertility that comes with a longer lifespan (Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity Genes). This was also seen to be true for the previously mentioned dauer phase of roundworms which acts to decrease nutritional requirements at the expense of reproductive capabilities. This dynamic is peculiar because an extended lifespan would not necessarily extend the reproductive years, so it would seemingly have no effect on fitness, as longevity genes are most prevalent in the years where more people typically die, which is not relevant during the main reproductive years. However, a reduced fertility would reduce fitness because it would impact an individual during those reproductive years. This means that while calorie restriction comes with the possibility of decreased fitness, the benefit of calorie restriction would not impact fitness. The net effect of this trade-off would be negative overall, so participation in this event would not be logical, nor would it be favorable in the eyes of natural
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