Epigenetic Aging in Brain Tissue of the Self-Fertilizing Vertebrate,

Justine Bélik, Frédéric Silvestre

Laboratory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Physiology, Institute of Life, Earth and Environment University of Namur Namur Belgium.Laboratory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Physiology, Institute of Life, Earth and Environment University of Namur Namur Belgium. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

DNA methylation changes predictably with age across taxa, but in most species, these patterns are confounded by genetic variation. As a result, age-predictive methylation models have mostly been developed in genetically heterogeneous, cross-fertilizing organisms, limiting inference about epigenetic aging per se. Disentangling epigenetic and genetic effects is therefore essential for understanding aging, adaptation, and evolution. Here, we exploit the mangrove rivulus (

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Research summary

This study utilizes the genetically homogeneous mangrove rivulus to disentangle epigenetic aging from genetic variation, providing a cleaner model for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of epigenetic drift. The research offers a methodological advance in isolating epigenetic effects, which is a foundational step for longevity science, but it does not yet propose interventions or reveal surprising biological insights that would significantly alter the field's current trajectory.

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