Beyond the usual suspects: expanding aging research from classic models to really cool critters.
Abstract
Model organisms such as yeast, worms, flies, and mice were key to discovering genes and other factors controlling life span and directly improved our understanding of human aging. Today, genomic tools allow study of a broader range of species, including those with short or long life spans, closely related species with different aging rates, or differences in interspecies aging. Models such as killifish, bats, and ants have much to teach us about human aging. They also reveal a flexible biological toolkit that species can use when evolutionary pressures drive rebalancing of growth, reproduction, or resilience with age-related decline.
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Research summary
The paper claims that expanding the study of aging to include a wider variety of model organisms can enhance our understanding of the biological mechanisms of aging. This research is relevant as it explores the root causes of aging through diverse species, potentially leading to new insights into lifespan extension and age-related biological processes.
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