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Sci. Aging Knowl. Environ., 22 May 2002 PERSPECTIVESGenes, Culture, and Aging Flies--What the Lab Can and Cannot Tell Us About Natural Genetic Variation for SenescenceChristine C. Spencer , and Daniel E. L. Promislow The authors are in the Department of Genetics at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. E-mail: promislow@uga.edu (D.E.L.P.) http://sageke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sageke;2002/20/pe6Key Words: laboratory culture • Drosophila • evolution • longevity genes • senescence • trade-offs
Abstract: Model organisms cultured in the lab provide a powerful way to explore basic biological processes. However, lab culture can select for high early fecundity and dramatically shorten the life-span of lab organisms. Studies that use these short-lived organisms to identify aging-related genes might identify genes that simply restore the organism's original life-span. These results might not be fully relevant to wild populations. Experiments that reduce selection for shorter life-span or seek genes in naturally long-lived cohorts should lead to a more accurate understanding of aging.
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