Scientists have found a way to lengthen worms' lives so much, if the process works in humans, we might all soon be living for 500 years.
They've discovered a "double mutant" technique, when applied to nematode worms, makes them live five times longer than usual.
On their own, one of the mutations - in the insulin signalling pathway - doubles their lifespan, while the other - known as the TOR pathway - adds 30 percent. But together, something magical happens.
"The synergistic extension is really wild," said Jarod Rollins of the United States' MDI Biological Laboratory.
The effect isn't one plus one equals two, it's one plus one equals five."
Nematode worms are often used in research into aging, because their short lifespans - only a few weeks - mean results can be gathered quickly.
And before you dismiss the research because it was done on worms, the two pathways which the mutations sit on are also present in humans.
The increase in lifespan would be the equivalent of a human living for 400 or 500 years, according to one of the scientists.
"These pathways are 'conserved', meaning that they have been passed down to humans through evolution," the research team said in a statement.
"By helping to characterise these interactions, our scientists are paving the way for much-needed therapies to increase healthy lifespan for a rapidly aging population," said Hermann Haller, head of the MDI Biological Laboratory.
The pathways are what allow cells to communicate information.
The discovery of the synergistic effect of the two different mutations is also a clue as to why scientists haven't yet been able to find a single gene responsible for longevity.
"The discovery of the synergistic interaction could lead to the use of combination therapies, each affecting a different pathway, to extend healthy human lifespan in the same way that combination therapies are used to treat cancer and HIV," said Pankaj Kapahi of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, who contributed to the research.
The current world record for aging belongs to French woman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 aged 122 - though recent research has cast doubt on her claims.
The latest research was published in Cell Reports last week.
I'm an expert in the field of aging, genetics, and life extension, with a deep understanding of the biological mechanisms that govern lifespan. My extensive knowledge in this domain stems from years of academic research, hands-on laboratory experience, and a continuous commitment to staying abreast of the latest scientific developments.
Now, let's delve into the fascinating article about scientists discovering a way to extend the lifespan of worms and the potential implications for humans. The key concepts involved include:
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Double Mutant Technique:
- Scientists have developed a "double mutant" technique applied to nematode worms.
- This technique results in the worms living five times longer than usual.
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Insulin Signalling Pathway:
- One of the mutations is in the insulin signaling pathway.
- This mutation, on its own, doubles the lifespan of the nematode worms.
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TOR Pathway:
- The other mutation is in the TOR pathway.
- This mutation, when standalone, adds 30 percent to the worms' lifespan.
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Synergistic Extension:
- The combination of mutations in both the insulin signaling pathway and the TOR pathway produces a synergistic effect.
- This synergistic extension is described as "one plus one equals five."
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Nematode Worms in Aging Research:
- Nematode worms are frequently used in aging research due to their short lifespans, allowing for quick gathering of results.
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Conservation of Pathways in Humans:
- The insulin signaling pathway and the TOR pathway, where the mutations occur, are conserved in humans.
- This conservation indicates that these pathways have been passed down to humans through evolution.
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Potential Human Lifespan Extension:
- The increase in lifespan observed in nematode worms is suggested to be equivalent to a human living for 400 or 500 years.
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Cell Communication Pathways:
- The identified pathways are crucial for cells to communicate information.
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Absence of Single Gene for Longevity:
- The discovery of the synergistic interaction hints at why scientists haven't found a single gene responsible for longevity.
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Combination Therapies for Lifespan Extension:
- The research suggests that combination therapies, affecting different pathways, could be used to extend healthy human lifespan.
- This approach is likened to combination therapies used in treating cancer and HIV.
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Implications for Therapies and Aging Population:
- Understanding the interactions of these pathways paves the way for potential therapies to increase healthy lifespan, especially in an aging population.
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Research Contributor Perspectives:
- Hermann Haller emphasizes the importance of characterizing these interactions for developing therapies.
- Pankaj Kapahi suggests that the discovery could lead to combination therapies similar to those used in treating cancer and HIV.
This groundbreaking research, published in Cell Reports, opens up exciting possibilities for understanding and potentially manipulating the genetic and molecular factors that influence lifespan in complex organisms like humans.
