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Genetics: Longevity Assurance

Implications



The fact that similar pathways regulate longevity in organisms as diverse as flies and mice raises the possibility that humans also possess such a pathway. If they do, there will be an opportunity to develop small compounds that can alter this pathway and possibly delay the onset of age-associated diseases. The greatest obstacle to developing any drug that delays aging is the great length of time it will take to determine its efficacy. At least the discovery that single gene mutations can dramatically increase longevity makes it feasible that one day such drugs will be developed.



DAVID A. SINCLAIR

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Additional topics

Medicine EncyclopediaAging Healthy - Part 2Genetics: Longevity Assurance - Why Do Longevity Genes Exist?, Human Longevity Genes, Longevity Assurance Genes In Model Organisms, Implications