Gene discovered that promotes rapid growth and early reproduction, but increases the risk of aging and cancer
Research suggests certain genes may favor early life at the expense of long-term health
An international team of researchers has identified the vgll3 gene as a crucial factor linking rapid growth and early maturation in organisms with increased aging and cancer risk later in life.
Those involved claim that this discovery may open new avenues to understand and separate the biological links between development, aging and diseases.
This finding, published in Nature Communication, by an international team from the Hebrew University, together with researchers from the University of East Anglia, supports the theory of antagonistic pleiotropy, suggesting that certain genes can favor early moments in life at the expense of long-term health.
Key experimental evidence
Characteristic of the vgll3 gene. By making modifications to the gene using CRISPR techniques in the African turquoise killifish, accelerated growth and early sexual maturation were observed.
Long-term costs. However, these benefits were accompanied by a significant reduction in life expectancy and an increased incidence of age-related tumors, specifically melanoma-like cancers.
Implications for evolutionary biology
The study's findings offer a new perspective on the evolutionary dilemma between growth and longevity.
According to Professor Itamar Harel, nature prioritizes the continuity of the species over individual longevity, a concept that could change the way we understand aging and its relationship with health.
Possible future applications
This study not only improves the understanding of the genetics of aging in vertebrates, but also suggests a path toward dissociating healthy growth from aging-associated diseases.
Since the vgll3 gene is also conserved in humans, its implications could be significant in cancer prevention and healthy life extension research.
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