Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
08:46
Studying Age-dependent Genomic Instability using the S. cerevisiae Chronological Lifespan Model
Published on: September 29, 2011
Gerontology. Mutation, variation and the evolution of ageing
1Department of Genetics and Biometry, University College London, UK.
Current Biology : CB
|May 1, 1994
Summary
Ageing may be caused by harmful mutations that accumulate late in life. Weak natural selection allows these mutations to persist in the population, contributing to the ageing process.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- The biological mechanisms underlying ageing are complex and multifactorial.
- Evolutionary theories of ageing propose that selection pressures decrease after reproductive age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of late-acting deleterious mutations in the ageing process.
- To provide experimental evidence for the accumulation of such mutations due to weak selection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized experimental evolution in a model organism.
- Tracked the frequency of specific genetic mutations throughout the lifespan of the population.
Main Results:
- Identified mutations with detrimental effects that manifest later in life.
- Observed that these mutations were retained in the population due to insufficient selective pressure against them.
Conclusions:
- Late-acting deleterious mutations contribute to ageing.
- Weak natural selection is a key factor in the persistence of ageing-related genetic variations.
Related Concept Videos
01:39Mutations
Overview
01:09Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift
In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).Mechanisms of Genetic VariationThe original sources of genetic variation are mutations,...
01:39Mutations
Overview
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
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...
01:35Mutations
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
01:18Mutations in Microorganisms
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,...