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Related Concept Videos

The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

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Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
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Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2025

Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Is Human Aging a Form of Phenoptosis?

Giacinto Libertini1,2, Graziamaria Corbi3,4, Olga Shubernetskaya5

  • 1Italian Society for Evolutionary Biology (SIBE), Asti, 14100, Italy. giacinto.libertini@yahoo.com.

Biochemistry. Biokhimiia
|January 30, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Aging may be a programmed process, termed phenoptosis, supported by genetic mechanisms like the subtelomere-telomere theory. This contrasts with aging as mere wear and tear, suggesting a regulated biological decline.

Keywords:
agingcell senescenceepigenetic changesgradual cell senescencephenoptosissubtelomeresubtelomere–telomere theorytelomere

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Theories on aging propose it's either a result of accumulated damage or a programmed biological process.
  • Phenoptosis describes aging as a genetically regulated and evolutionarily modeled phenomenon.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review theoretical arguments and empirical data supporting aging as phenoptosis.
  • To examine evidence for specific aging mechanisms, particularly the subtelomere-telomere theory.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of theoretical arguments and empirical data on aging.
  • Analysis of evidence supporting the subtelomere-telomere theory and its proposed mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • More evidence supports aging as phenoptosis than as a consequence of unrepaired damage.
  • The subtelomere-telomere theory, including the role of TERRA sequences, provides plausible mechanisms for programmed aging.
  • Epigenetic modifications, cell senescence, and telomere length regulation are compatible with phenoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Aging as phenoptosis is a scientifically sound hypothesis.
  • The alternative theory requires further clarification to explain phenomena that appear to contradict it.