What accounts for the wide variation in life span of genetically identical organisms reared in a constant environment?
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.
Kirkwood
Thomas B L
TB
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
Feder
Martin
M
Finch
Caleb E
CE
Franceschi
Claudio
C
Globerson
Amiela
A
Klingenberg
Christian Peter
CP
LaMarco
Kelly
K
Omholt
Stig
S
Westendorp
Rudi G J
RG
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*