Washington, Oct 25: American researchers have doubled the lifespan of a small worm by modifying its genetic composition while avoiding the usual side effect of disappearing reproductive capacity, according to a study published in Science Magazine. The technique consists in modifying the genes that control hormonal activity and that are common to many species including man. This research could be a breakthrough in increasing human longevity, according to researchers of the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) in charge of the study published yesterday.
The technique, tested on a millimetre-long worm (Caeno Rhabditis Elegans), deactivates clusters of genes at different stages of the worm's growth to study their effects on longevity. The researchers studied DAF-2 and DAF-16 genes. In previous work, they had shown that partial deactivation of the DAF-2 gene made it possible to double the worm's lifespan. The gene encoded an insulin receiver as well as a hormonal growth promoter.



Other studies showed the influence of this hormonal production factor on the lifespan of the mouse and the fruit fly, which could make it equally important for man.



The DAF-2 gene also affects reproductive capacity but new research shows that the gene acts in various ways at various stages of life to control reproduction or longevity.



Bureau Report