Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Published on: September 17, 2020
Epigenomics and the regulation of aging
Jerome D Boyd-Kirkup1, Christopher D Green, Gang Wu
1Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Abstract:
It is tempting to assume that a gradual accumulation of damage 'causes' an organism to age, but other biological processes present during the lifespan, whether 'programmed' or 'hijacked', could control the type and speed of aging. Theories of aging have classically focused on changes at the genomic level; however, individuals with similar genetic backgrounds can age very differently. Epigenetic modifications include DNA methylation, histone modifications and ncRNA. Environmental cues may be 'remembered' during lifespan through changes to the epigenome that affect the rate of aging. Changes to the epigenomic landscape are now known to associate with aging, but so far causal links to longevity are only beginning to be revealed. Nevertheless, it is becoming apparent that there is significant reciprocal regulation occurring between the epigenomic levels. Future work utilizing new technologies and techniques should build a clearer picture of the link between epigenomic changes and aging.
Related Concept Videos
Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic Regulation
X-chromosome...
Epigenetic Regulation
Telomeres and Telomerase
Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...

