[Priorities in fundamental research in gerontology: Russia contribution]

Current state-of-art and tendencies in the world gerontology and most important results of Russian researchers in the field are presented in the analytical review. Among the top achievements of the gerontology are: the identification of longevity genes in some animal species; Werner's progeria gene cloning; studies on genetic determinants of human longevity; discovery on evolution origin of species life span and the trade off with the reproduction; the theory of marginotomy and identification of the role of telomere and telomerase in cellular senescence; significant increase in the replicative life span of transfected with hTERT cells in vitro; the development of the free radical theory of aging; the evidence of the role of reactive oxygen species in DNA damage; the evidence of life span extension in genetically modified (transgenic, knockout or mutant) animals; the studies on the role of somatic mutations and DNA repair in mechanisms of aging, apoptosis and malignant transformation; the evidence of the life span extension by the exposure to calorie restriction diet from worms to primates and discovery of key mechanisms of the phenomena; the studies on the role of the pineal gland in the aging and the evidence of geroprotective activity of pineal peptides and melatonin. The prospects of the development of basic research on aging in Russia are reviewed as well.