Scientists Track Down Human Longevity Genes

Scientists track down human longevity genes
Genes that prolong lifespan have been identified in yeast, worms and even mice, but not in people, said researcher Louis M. Kunkel of Children's Hospital in Boston. He and his colleagues have now identified a small region along human chromosome 4 where they believe such genes reside. "This is the first evidence in humans that there's a genetic component to longevity, and that's very exciting," said Kunkel.
Kunkel and his colleagues looked at 400 markers lying along the entire genetic code of 308 people. These subjects belonged to one of 137 sets of two or three siblings, each of whom were at least 90 years old and where one member of each family group was at least 98 years old. The researchers found that on chromosome 4 there was a string of genetic material shared more commonly between sets of siblings than would be expected by chance alone.
Other genetic studies have found that people who live to be 100 or older are less likely than people with normal life spans to have genes predisposing them to ailments of aging such as cancer, heart disease or Alzheimer's disease. But on chromosome 4, in a region of DNA containing between 200 and 500 genes, Kunkel and his colleagues hope to identify one or more genes that simply help people age more slowly. If the research team can tease out why these particular genes help people live longer, their insights could lead to the development of drugs that can help people avoid the adverse consequences of aging, Kunkel said.