The Unusual Genetics of Human Longevity
- 28 June 2006
- journal article
- review article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science of Aging Knowledge Environment
- Vol. 2006 (10), pe20
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sageke.2006.10.pe20
Abstract
In no species other than humans do cultural, social, and biological factors interact with each other in modulating complex phenotypes. Thus, the identification of genetic factors that affect human longevity is a true challenge. The model of centenarians provides us a unique opportunity to tackle this challenge. In this Perspective, we discuss some recent findings (the impact of geography and demography on the longevity phenotype, the relationship between longevity and homozygosity, the role of the nuclear-mitochondrial genome cross-talk) by which new ideas are suggested, such as the concept of a complex allele timing as a pivotal process in modulating the probability of achieving longevity.Keywords
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