Epigenetic Noise and Regulatory Entropy in Aging: A Quantitative Systems-Level Framework

Area of Science:

• Aging research
• Epigenetics
• Systems biology

Background:

• Aging involves functional decline and disease susceptibility.
• Epigenetic changes, including noise, are observed in aging.
• Single-cell data reveal increased stochastic variability during aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a quantitative framework for understanding epigenetic noise in aging.
• To define and formalize regulatory entropy using network and information theory.
• To explore the role of rising regulatory entropy in cellular destabilization.

Main Methods:

• Developing a systems-level framework for epigenetic noise.
• Utilizing information-theoretic and network-based metrics for regulatory entropy.
• Integrating single-cell atlases, methylation entropy, and chromatin topology data.

Main Results:

• Epigenetic noise increases regulatory entropy in gene regulatory networks.
• Rising regulatory entropy destabilizes cellular identity and network coherence.
• Distinguishing biological variability from technical noise is crucial.

Conclusions:

• Epigenetic noise contributes to aging by increasing regulatory entropy.
• This framework offers a systems-level view of aging biology.
• Preserving regulatory precision may extend healthspan.