Buildup of mutated DNA causes aging in Mice, could be similar in Humans

Aging Cause Found in Mice, Could Help Humans


The buildup of mutated DNA triggers aging in mice, according to a new study that could help advance research into human aging.

As a lifetime of small mutations in the genetic code build up, cells begin to die. These deaths lead to such things as graying hair and weight changes, hearing and vision impairment, loss of muscle and weakened bones.

"We think that the key to what is happening in aging is that as (genetic) mutations or DNA damage accumulates, critical cells die," said Tomas Prolla of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "These experiments favor a major role for programmed cell death in aging."

This study, expected help scientists understand how humans grow old and die, is detailed in the July 15 issue of the journal Science.

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The journal Science just published the 125 questions Science doesn't know the answer to. And I believe one of them was why specifically do we age?

Hmm...this is interesting....If this information is correct its, as if when we are born we are already given a count down...I hope that they continue research into this field, would be nice to hear the final results.

Unfortunately it isn't that easy, yes genetic garbage does build up and cause problems like malformed proteans and runaway cell replication(Cancer) but WHY does this happen? The Chromosomes have a key role as well, they have caps on the end called Telomeres that shorten with each cell division and shorten each time at a regular rate, when they are gone they leave the chromosome vulnerable. There is also the question of WHY do we stop aging after a certain point? The keys to aging are going to unlock eventually under continual probing and experimentation. When the breakthroughs happen expect radical change to happen shortly thereafter.

[edit on 16-7-2005 by sardion2000]