Beyond the evolutionary theory of ageing, from functional genomics to evo-gero.
By the mid 1970s, the mechanisms by which ageing can evolve had a secure theoretical basis in population genetics. Here, we discuss how subsequent evolutionary work has focussed on testing and extending this theory, and on attempting to integrate it with other emerging facets of the biology of ageing, such as genetic studies of long-lived mutants and of phenotypic plasticity in ageing, such as in response to nutritional status. We also describe how functional genomic studies are providing new insights into the evolutionary forces shaping genome evolution and lifespan control. Future challenges include understanding the biochemistry of longevity and how its failure generates ageing and associated diseases, and the determination of the genetic basis of lifespan evolution and the great plasticity that it displays.
Partridge
Linda
L
Centre for Research on Ageing, Department of Biology, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. l.partridge@ucl.ac.uk
Gems
David
D
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D023281:Genomics; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000209:etiology; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008954:Models, Biological