A team of scientists at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), has made a groundbreaking discovery with the help of Chinese collaborators – a potential method to increase lifespan by up to 82%. The method involves genetically rewiring a circuit in yeast cells to allow them to oscillate between two deteriorative processes, effectively slowing down the aging process.
According to Molecular Biology Professor Nan Hao, the circuit responsible for aging acts as a “toggle switch” that triggers cells’ progression towards death. By rewiring the circuit, the UCSD researchers and their Chinese collaborators were able to delay the aging process in yeast cells and increase their lifespan by 82%.
The study, which was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, could have significant implications for anti-aging research. It suggests that genetic circuit rewiring could potentially be used to slow down the aging process in other organisms, including humans.
