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Sci. Aging Knowl. Environ., 28 June 2006 PERSPECTIVESThe Unusual Genetics of Human LongevityGiovanna De Benedictis, and Claudio Franceschi The authors are in the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Calabria, Rende, Italy (G.D.B.), the Interdepartmental Center "L. Galvani" at the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (C.F.), and the Department of Gerontological Research, INRCA, Ancona, Italy (C.F.). E-mail: g.debenedictis{at}unical.it (G.D.B.) http://sageke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/10/pe20Key Words: centenarians • human longevity • complex trait • genetic demographic approaches • antagonistic pleiotropy • complex allele timing • mitochondrial genome • homozygosity
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. Citation: G. De Benedictis, C. Franceschi, The Unusual Genetics of Human Longevity. Sci. Aging Knowl. Environ. 2006 (10), pe20 (2006).
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Science of Aging Knowledge Environment. ISSN 1539-6150
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