[The genome and ageing].
Lifespan, longevity and healthy aging are complex phenotypes, and unravelling of the genetic background has been challeng-ing. Excess of advantageous gene variants seems to be of more importance for longevity than absence of known disease-sus-ceptibility genes. Animal studies have pointed to candidate path--ways related to ageing, but only a few genes have repeatedly been associated to human lifespan. Research into the genetic contribution to a long and healthy life is currently focusing on epigenetic phenomena and the importance of rare variants in families enriched for longevity.
Lene
L
Christiansen
Dansk Center for Aldringsforskning, Institut for Sundhedstjenesteforskning, Syddansk Universitet, J.B. Winsløwsvej 9B, 5000 Odense. kchristensen@health.sdu.dk.
Kaare
K
Christensen
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics