Gene that destroys unhealthy cells found to extend the life of flies by 60 per cent
Posted: January 16, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Swiss researchers gave fruit flies an extra copy of a gene known as 'azot' It is thought to kill cells that malfunction to help keep tissues healthy Tissue from flies with the extra gene grew slower, and was healthier The flies also lived between 50 to 60 per cent longer than normal insects Humans also carry the azot gene and the researchers from the University of Bern hope it could be used to develop new anti-aging treatments If it has the same affect in humans, the average lifespan could become 120
By Richard Gray for MailOnline
Published: 12:55 EST, 16 January 2015 | Updated: 14:09 EST, 16 January 2015
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Scientists may have hit upon a new way of extending the lifespan of living organisms - by activating a gene that destroys unhealthy cells.
Researchers at the University of Bern found they were able to help flies live up to 60% longer by increasing the activity of a gene that targets damaged cells.
If this could be transferred to humans, it could extend the average lifespan of people in developed countries like the US and the UK to beyond 120 years old.
The scientists found that a gene called ahuizotl, or 'azot' acts like a sort of cellular quality control, helping to weed out unhealthy or malfunctioning cells. Fruit flies, like the one pictured, were given an extra copy of this gene that targets unhealthy cells. During tests the flies lived 60% longer lives
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Gene that destroys unhealthy cells found to extend the life of flies by 60 per cent