While extreme longevity and negligible senescence are generally the domain of plants and colonial animals, bivalves as a group rock the boat when it comes to long-lived non-colonial animals. But whether it’s because they live for so long – and research budgets are so low – or whether it’s because it’s too easy to default…… Continue reading Long-lived bivalves – what makes them tick for so long?
Category: Comparative gerontology
The 3 things lifespan record-breaking species do right
I am in my 30s as I type this. And the idea of celebrating my 100th birthday is unthinkable. Even unimaginable. After some clinical experience with the elderly, I don’t even know whether to feel happy or sad when another centenarian is pestered by curious and anxious people looking for their secret. Because being 100…… Continue reading The 3 things lifespan record-breaking species do right
From bench to bedside – how to report on animal research for meaningful human clinical trials
Nature has already solved the problem of aging in species all around the world. While most of these species are long-lived trees, there are quite a lot of animals too. To be upfront, most of these animals are primitive, less complex than we humans are. But just like we replicated the technology of manufacturing penicillin…… Continue reading From bench to bedside – how to report on animal research for meaningful human clinical trials
Royalactin – the substance that turns worker bees into queens
You can never put things in perspective until you measure them. And you need hard, cold numbers for that. Calorie restriction with optimal nutrition is the only robust method in gerontology that reliably prolonged lifespans in many species with an average of 30%. I thought 30% is huge. It’s not. Because after a serendipitous conversation…… Continue reading Royalactin – the substance that turns worker bees into queens