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Scientists find key to eternal life
ALASTAIR DALTON
SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT
THE
search for the secret of eternal life has advanced a step, after
scientists claimed they had located the gene responsible for healthy old
age.
Icelandic biotechnologists said they had isolated the
Methuselah gene, which they believe could lead to the development of drugs
enabling people to live longer.
The gene - a stretch of DNA - has
been named after the Old Testament figure said to have lived for 969
years.
Kari Stefansson, the chief executive of DeCode Genetics,
said: "There is no reason why we cannot do this.
"We know the
location of this gene. Soon we will study its exact DNA sequence and work
out how it works in the body. You can then think of making drugs that
could replicate its action."
Researchers pinpointed the gene by
using Iceland’s uniquely comprehensive family records to compare 1,200
people who had lived beyond 90 with a similar number with average
lifespans.
They found those who lived longer were much more
closely related than in the other group.
Mr Stefansson said: "Our
tight heritage and records are ideal for this sort of work. We have the
same genes as everyone else on the planet, but because we have a small,
tight population of only 270,000, it is much easier to pinpoint those of
us that carry genes that have interesting functions."
The
scientists discovered that those who lived longer appeared to have
inherited a single gene that protected them against old age, rather than
being born into families which did not inherit genes that made them
vulnerable to illnesses.
DeCode’s work follows research published
by Harvard Medical School in the US last year, that claimed people who
lived past 100 had in-built defences against old age.
The study,
which was aimed at protecting people from ageing, found such people had a
longevity gene which was inherited, so their children were also likely to
live ten to 15 years longer than average.
It also found that the
brothers and sisters of centenarians were four times more likely than
average of living to 90. The Harvard researchers discovered that all 137
100-year-olds they studied had Methuselah-type genes, which appeared to
enable them to fight off conditions such as cancer, dementia and heart
disease.
Scientists had previously believed thousands of human
genes worked together to determine how long people live.
Professor
Thomas Perls, a geriatrician involved with the Harvard study, said: "An
average set of genes will allow you to live to your mid to late eighties.
To get another 20 healthy years, you have these disease -resistant
genes."
This article:
http://thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=135692002
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