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Biologists Link Shorter Lifespans in Large Dog Breeds to 'Jumping Genes'

Biologists Link Shorter Lifespans in Large Dog Breeds to 'Jumping Genes'

A genetic analysis of dog breeds, published in the journal Science by a team of biologists, provides insights into why larger dogs generally have shorter lifespans than their smaller relatives. The study suggests that the longstanding size–age correlation is likely due to the behavior of 'jumping genes,' specifically LINE1s, which begin to cause genetic instability as dogs age. These LINE1s are transposable elements that copy and intersperse throughout the genome, damaging DNA. While DNA methylation initially regulates these elements, this control diminishes with age. The research, led by evolutionary biologist Noah Snyder-Mackler from Arizona State University (ASU), examined genetic data from 864 dogs in the Dog Aging Project, focusing on genome-wide DNA methylation. They found that larger dogs lost an average of 35 percent more LINE1 methylation than smaller canines, indicating a faster decline in genetic regulation.

DNA Research Offers Clues to Faster Aging in Larger Dogs

DNA Research Offers Clues to Faster Aging in Larger Dogs

New research published in Science, which examined 1,640 DNA methylomes from 894 dogs, suggests that larger dog breeds tend to age faster at a molecular level than smaller breeds. The study found that molecular aging occurred most rapidly early in life, with larger dogs exhibiting faster molecular aging compared to their smaller counterparts. Additionally, male dogs showed faster molecular aging than female dogs. The researchers identified distinct DNA patterns, noting that size-associated methylation differences were particularly prominent at transposable elements, often referred to as 'jumping genes.' Sex-associated methylation changes were concentrated on the X chromosome. While these findings offer clues about canine aging, they do not definitively establish jumping genes as the sole cause of shorter lifespans in large dogs, nor do they provide a precise prediction of an individual dog's lifespan. The study emphasizes that individual lifespan is influenced by multiple factors beyond molecular patterns.

Scientists Uncover Longevity Genes in 194-Year-Old Tortoise Jonathan, Revealing Anti-Aging Secrets

Scientists Uncover Longevity Genes in 194-Year-Old Tortoise Jonathan, Revealing Anti-Aging Secrets

Scientists have analyzed the genome of Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise believed to be 194 years old, to understand his exceptional longevity. Jonathan, the oldest known living land animal, has significantly outlived the average lifespan of his species, which is around 80 years. Researchers, including physician-scientist Stephen Clark of the Kallel Foundation and UCLA epigeneticist Steve Horvath, obtained DNA from cheek swabs and saliva samples. Their analysis, published in Science Advances, focused on positively selected genes and epigenetic markers. They discovered that Jonathan shares several genes with another long-lived tortoise, Lonesome George, including LAMTOR4 and VCP, which are linked to human longevity, cell protection, and DNA repair. Jonathan also possesses multiple copies of PRF1, a gene associated with boosting the immune system against cancer and degrading cells. While Jonathan's epigenome showed expected signs of entropy for his age, key gene promoters controlling mitochondrial function...

Isle of Wight fossil sheds light on enigmatic meat-eating dinosaurs

Isle of Wight fossil sheds light on enigmatic meat-eating dinosaurs

By Will Dunham Oct 13 (Reuters) - The partial skull of a tiger-sized predator that prowled what is now the Isle of Wight off England's southern coast about 120 million years ago is giving scientists a better understanding of an enigmatic group of meat-eating dinosaurs known for running down prey and

Jonathan the Tortoise's Epigenome Offers Clues to Longevity, Resembling Younger Counterparts

Jonathan the Tortoise's Epigenome Offers Clues to Longevity, Resembling Younger Counterparts

Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise estimated to be 194 years old and the oldest known living land animal, has become a subject of scientific research into longevity. Scientists have sequenced his genome and examined his epigenome, which consists of chemical markers that regulate gene activity. By comparing Jonathan's epigenome with those of four other Aldabra tortoises of varying ages, researchers discovered that some of his gene-control regions, particularly those associated with DNA repair and energy management, appear significantly more orderly than expected for his age. In fact, on one measure of epigenetic disorder, only a five-year-old tortoise in the comparison group scored lower. Additionally, Jonathan's DNA contains 287 unique gene variants not found in the other tortoises, some of which are linked to DNA repair and tumor suppression. While researchers, including co-lead author Benjamin Vaisvil, caution against definitively attributing his longevity solely to these findings, acknowledging factors...

Closure of Riyadh airport extended after deadly Houthi strikes

Closure of Riyadh airport extended after deadly Houthi strikes

By Gianluca Lo Nostro Oct 12 (Reuters) - Saudi authorities said on Monday they were extending the suspension of operations at the international airport in the capital, Riyadh, after deadly weekend attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis.

ASML says AI demand will exceed chip-tool capacity through 2028

ASML says AI demand will exceed chip-tool capacity through 2028

By Nathan Vifflin and Toby Sterling Oct 14 (Reuters) - ASML said booming AI demand was driving orders for its chipmaking tools into 2030, with customers seeking more capacity than it can supply next year and through 2028, adding to concerns over supply shortages.

Norway fines Microsoft's Xandr $9.6 million over Grindr data sharing

Norway fines Microsoft's Xandr $9.6 million over Grindr data sharing

Oct 12 (Reuters) - Norway's data protection authority has fined Microsoft's adtech unit Xandr 92 million crowns ($9.61 million) for unlawfully relaying Grindr users' sensitive data to thousands of advertisers, it said on Monday.

World stocks dip on AI spending concerns; Brent settles lower

World stocks dip on AI spending concerns; Brent settles lower

By Sruthi Shankar and Chibuike Oguh NEW YORK, Oct 13 (Reuters) - World stocks edged lower on Tuesday as concerns about AI spending weighed on chipmakers and investors looked ahead to more US corporate earnings for clues on whether big technology firms can justify their heavy capital spending.

Earlier Menopause Linked to Faster Biological Aging in Women, Study Finds

Earlier Menopause Linked to Faster Biological Aging in Women, Study Finds

A new study led by researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), has found a significant association between earlier menopause and accelerated biological aging in women. The study, published in 'Mechanisms of Ageing and Development,' is a meta-analysis that synthesized evidence from 29 previously published studies involving 550,550 women. Researchers utilized DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks, which analyze chemical changes to human DNA that accumulate over time, to estimate biological aging. These clocks provide an indication of a person's biological age compared to their chronological age. The study specifically calculated epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), which reflects whether biological aging is occurring faster or slower than expected. The findings indicate that each one-year earlier age at menopause was associated with approximately 0.08 years, or about one month, of greater EAA when measured using the GrimAge clock, a newer-generation DNAm clock...

Scientists Develop Data-Driven Diet to Slow Epigenetic Aging by Nearly Four Years

Scientists Develop Data-Driven Diet to Slow Epigenetic Aging by Nearly Four Years

Researchers have developed a new dietary index, the Empirical Dietary Index for Slower Epigenetic Aging (EDISEA), which is designed to slow biological aging. Unlike traditional dietary guidelines based on hypotheses about food benefits, EDISEA is data-driven, identifying dietary features that best predict a slower acceleration of GrimAge2, a second-generation epigenetic clock. Epigenetic clocks measure DNA methylation patterns, which change predictably with age, allowing scientists to estimate biological age. A higher EDISEA score was associated with epigenetic aging that was 4.17 years slower than expected in a derivation sample of 1,711 participants. This finding was validated in an independent sample of 2,311 participants, showing 3.77 years slower epigenetic aging. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that adhering to this pattern is linked to a measurably lower risk of death and a broad spectrum of age-related diseases.

Epigenetic Clocks Offer Insights into Biological Aging, Not Definitive Health Predictions

Epigenetic Clocks Offer Insights into Biological Aging, Not Definitive Health Predictions

Epigenetic clocks, which analyze DNA methylation patterns, are being used to estimate biological age and its association with health outcomes. These clocks identify chemical tags on DNA that change with age, typically through blood samples. While early models primarily aimed to estimate chronological age, newer versions, such as PhenoAge- and GrimAge-related clocks, are designed to capture health signals and predict outcomes. Research indicates that faster epigenetic aging is linked to conditions like frailty, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular events, mortality, and cognitive decline in large population studies. However, experts emphasize that these tests are not standardized for individual care and their results should be interpreted cautiously, as they do not provide a definitive diagnosis or predict an individual's future health or lifespan. The accuracy of these clocks in estimating chronological age, sometimes with correlations of 0.96 or higher, does not directly translate to their ability to predic...