What can beetles tell us about slowing aging? Answers are in the mitochondria
Mitochondrial genes influence life expectancy in beetles, a new study reports. Genetic research into aging and longevity revolves mainly around the nuclear genome, which encodes most of our multicellular bodies, but a new Monash University study performed on beetles suggests shifting focus to the mitochondrial genome. The mitochondria—kidney-shaped organelles often referred to as the cell's powerhouses—each contain their own set of DNA, passed on from mother to offspring, and according to the study, it's these strands that may hold key genes that determine one's life expectancy, at least in bugs. The study, published in the August issue of The American Naturalist , found evidence that particular combinations of genes (haplotypes) in the mitochondrial genome influenced lifespan in a species of seed beetles ( Callosobruchus maculates ). As a result, the research supports growing evidence that particular mitochondrial gene combinations could also play a major role i...