A new study shows aging affects cellular processes in the same way across five species: humans, rats, mice, fruit flies, and nematode worms.
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New insights
The study has opened up a "new area of understanding of how and why we age." The findings could help uncover ways to reverse aging.
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Aging's molecular effects
Aging causes changes in molecular processes within cells, leading to more frequent gene mutations and shorter telomeres, which are the ends of the chromosomes.
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Aging impacts transcription
Only a few studies have investigated how aging affects transcription, a process where genetic information is copied from a blueprint DNA strand to RNA molecules.
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Aging effects
Researchers found that the speed of the RNA polymerase 2 enzyme, which directs the transcription process, increases with age but becomes less precise and more error-prone.
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Implications
The study could help understand how the enzyme could be used as a target for drugs that aim to slow down the aging process.