title: What accounts for the wide variation in life span of genetically identical organisms reared in a constant environment?
abstract: Individual organisms show marked variability in life span, even when they are of the same genotype and are raised in a common environment protected from extrinsic hazards. This intrinsic variability of life span is thought to arise from the stochastic nature of the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling development and ageing. In this article we review what is currently understood about the factors underlying the variability of life span and consider the implications for research that aims to improve the predictability of health in old age.
authors.affiliation: Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Biogerontology Research, Institute for Ageing and Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UK. tom.kirkwood@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Thomas B L
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feder
authors.forename: Caleb E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Amiela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Globerson
authors.forename: Christian Peter
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Klingenberg
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: LaMarco
authors.forename: Stig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omholt
authors.forename: Rudi G J
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Westendorp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*