Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2025
10:08
Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: May 18, 2022
3.5K
Genetic Modulation of Lifespan: Dynamic Effects, Sex Differences, and Body Weight Trade-offs
Danny Arends1, David G Ashbrook2, Suheeta Roy2
1Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|August 8, 2025
Summary
Researchers mapped genetic loci influencing lifespan and mortality across different ages in mice. These DNA variants, termed Vita and Soma loci, reveal complex age- and sex-specific effects on longevity and body weight correlations.
Area of Science:
- Genetics of aging
- Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping
- Longevity research
Background:
- Lifespan is influenced by genetic variations with age-specific effects.
- Understanding genetic control of mortality dynamics is crucial for aging research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map genetic loci modulating age-specific mortality and lifespan in mice.
- To investigate the relationship between body weight, lifespan, and genetic factors.
- To explore age-dependent epistatic interactions between identified genetic loci.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an actuarial approach to map genetic loci influencing age-specific mortality.
- Analyzed a population of 6,438 mouse siblings, tracking survivorship to at least 1100 days.
- Identified and characterized 'Vita' loci affecting mortality and 'Soma' loci affecting body weight-lifespan correlations.
Main Results:
- Discovered 29 'Vita' loci dynamically modulating mean lifespan with age- and sex-specific effects.
- Identified 19 'Soma' loci linking young adult body weight to negative life expectancy and 11 loci linking older adult weight to positive life expectancy.
- Found 289 age-dependent epistatic interactions between Vita and Soma loci, with <4% common to both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Genetic loci significantly influence age-specific mortality and lifespan dynamics.
- Distinct genetic loci ('Soma') shape the complex relationship between body weight and longevity.
- Findings provide a bridge between evolutionary aging theories and genetic mechanisms, offering targets for lifespan extension interventions.
More Related Videos
08:53Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring – Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine
Published on: January 26, 2024
1.2K
09:23Quantification of Information Encoded by Gene Expression Levels During Lifespan Modulation Under Broad-range Dietary Restriction in C. elegans
Published on: August 16, 2017
8.2K
Related Concept Videos
02:50Dosage Compensation
6.3K
In animals, gender is determined by the number and type of sex chromosome. For example, human females have two X chromosomes, and males have one X and one Y chromosome, whereas C.elegans with one X chromosome is a male, and the one with two X chromosomes is a hermaphrodite.
In addition to sexual development, the X chromosome has genes involved in autosomal functions such as brain development and the immune system. Therefore, males and females with distinct numbers of X chromosomes will...
In addition to sexual development, the X chromosome has genes involved in autosomal functions such as brain development and the immune system. Therefore, males and females with distinct numbers of X chromosomes will...
6.3K
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
6.7K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.7K
01:28Human Genetics
723
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
723
01:19Regulation of Metabolism
9.9K
Cellular needs and conditions vary from cell to cell and change within individual cells over time. For example, the required enzymes and energetic demands of stomach cells are different from those of fat storage cells, skin cells, blood cells, and nerve cells. Furthermore, a digestive cell works much harder to process and break down nutrients during the time that closely follows a meal compared with many hours after a meal. As these cellular demands and conditions vary, so do the amounts and...
9.9K
01:20Gene-Environment Interactions
440
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
440