Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025
08:46
Studying Age-dependent Genomic Instability using the S. cerevisiae Chronological Lifespan Model
Published on: September 29, 2011
15.7K
Aging: Lifespan and the evolution of somatic mutation rates
Ben Galeota-Sprung1, Paul Sniegowski1
1Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19063, USA.
Current Biology : CB
|July 12, 2022
Summary
Shorter lifespans in mammals correlate with higher somatic mutation rates. This suggests evolution may link aging processes and DNA damage accumulation, possibly through selection against harmful cell growth.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Gerontology
- Genetics
Background:
- Aging is a complex process influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
- Somatic mutations accumulate over time and can contribute to aging and disease.
- Mammalian lifespan varies greatly, but the underlying evolutionary drivers are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between somatic mutation rate and lifespan across mammalian species.
- To explore the potential evolutionary mechanisms connecting aging and mutation accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of lifespan data and somatic mutation rates in various mammal species.
- Bioinformatic analysis of genomic data to estimate mutation accumulation rates.
Main Results:
- An inverse correlation was observed between mammalian lifespan and somatic mutation rate.
- Species with longer lifespans exhibited lower rates of somatic mutation accumulation.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest an evolutionary trade-off between lifespan and the rate of somatic mutations.
- Selection against non-cancerous selfish cell lineages may play a role in this observed relationship.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:15Replicative Cell Senescence
3.7K
Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds...
3.7K
02:21Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
12.5K
Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
12.5K
01:20Mismatch Repair
5.2K
Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
5.2K
01:18Mutations in Microorganisms
69
Mutations are heritable changes in an organism’s genome involving alterations in the base sequence of DNA or RNA. These changes can influence cellular processes and phenotypic traits, potentially transforming the unaltered wild type into a mutant form. Such changes, termed forward mutations, are pivotal in shaping the genetic diversity of organisms.RNA viruses exhibit the highest mutation rates due to the absence of robust proofreading mechanisms during genome replication. In contrast,...
69
01:26Aging
165
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in 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...
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...
165
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
7.3K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
7.3K