Is Aging Genetic?
I hope that everyone enjoyed our guest speaker, Dr. Bronikowski. I thought her research on genes and exercise in mice was a great segue into what we will be discussing the next class: the role of genes in aging.
There is no assigned reading for next class, but I would like each person to find an article (doesn't have to be from a peer-reviewed journal) that discusses the importance of genetics. In your post I would also like you to discuss your own interpretations of the article, as well as your initial understanding on the importance of genes and aging. (For example, do genes play a larger role than environmental influences? Are certain characteristics more influenced by genes?)
Tasks for this week:
1. Find a reading/article on the importance of genetics in aging.
2. Reflect upon the article that you found. How does the information fit with your own conceptions of genes and aging.
3. Comment on the readings/reflections of two other class members.
There is no assigned reading for next class, but I would like each person to find an article (doesn't have to be from a peer-reviewed journal) that discusses the importance of genetics. In your post I would also like you to discuss your own interpretations of the article, as well as your initial understanding on the importance of genes and aging. (For example, do genes play a larger role than environmental influences? Are certain characteristics more influenced by genes?)
Tasks for this week:
1. Find a reading/article on the importance of genetics in aging.
2. Reflect upon the article that you found. How does the information fit with your own conceptions of genes and aging.
3. Comment on the readings/reflections of two other class members.
The article details experimentation on mice concerning genetic influences in aging.
It seems as though scientists are making progress on isolating and manipulating genes to determine their effects on aging, or at least mortality in this case.
Either way the research should be setting a groundwork for future exploits in the field.
I do not know a lot about genetics and genes or any of that business but I'm sure genetics play a pretty important role in aging. Not alone though, because I think aging is influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors as well. If scientists could figure out how to slow or halt aging through medicine or gene therapy (or whatever) that might be neat. But I wouldn't want to live to be 1,000.
The article you found is very interesting! I do agree with you that there are other factors that influence aging along with the role genes play in in the process.
ReplyDeleteInteresting article Sara! I definitely agree with you that aging is composed of many components including genetics. I’m excited to see what future research reveals as to how all of these components are related. Neat!
ReplyDeleteMy article also talked about specific genes which lead to aging effects, but more specifically was about research which was isolating genes and gene sequences to further understand the process. This is all pretty confusing to me. How on earth do they isolate genes, and then still use them to observe the processes they do?? Woa! I think this is crazy cool science were talking about.
ReplyDeleteI too think the article you found is interesting Sara and that genes play an important role in aging. But I definitely agree with you in that there have to be other environmental factors that effect aging as well. Besides, like you said, who really wants to live to 1,000 years old anyways?
ReplyDelete