Rodents for comparative aging studies: from mice to beavers

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Comparative Biology

Background:

• Mice and rats are extensively studied mammalian models in gerontology due to their short lifespans and rapid reproduction.
• While fast-aging rodents are valuable, studying long-lived rodent species offers complementary insights into extending human lifespan.
• The order Rodentia includes diverse species with lifespans exceeding 20 years, such as naked mole-rats and squirrels, enabling comparative aging research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the evolution of lifespan within the rodent order.
• To review the biological characteristics of slow-aging rodent species.
• To demonstrate how a comparative approach can uncover evolutionary relationships between biological traits and lifespan.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on rodent lifespan evolution and biology.
• Comparative analysis of biological data across different rodent species.
• Examination of the coevolution of telomerase activity and body mass in rodents.

Main Results:

• Rodents display a wide spectrum of lifespans, with some species living exceptionally long lives.
• Biological factors influencing lifespan vary significantly across different rodent species.
• Telomerase activity was found to have coevolved with body mass in rodents, suggesting a link between these factors.

Conclusions:

• The diversity of lifespan in rodents provides a rich resource for understanding aging processes.
• Comparative studies of slow-aging rodents are crucial for advancing research on lifespan extension.
• The coevolution of telomerase activity and body mass highlights key evolutionary adaptations related to aging in mammals.