Harvard researchers isolate new age-related biomarker

Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 01:20 in Biology & Nature

A newly discovered ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clock can be used to accurately determine an individual’s chronological and biological age, according to research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.  The ribosomal clock is a novel biomarker of aging based on the rDNA, a segment of the genome that previously has been mechanistically linked to aging. It has potentially wide applications, including measuring how exposures to certain pollutants or dietary interventions accelerate or slow aging in a diversity of species, including mice and humans. “We have hopes that the ribosomal clock will provide new insights into the impact of the environment and personal choices on long-term health,” said senior author Bernardo Lemos, associate professor of environmental epigenetics. “Determining biological age is a central step to understanding fundamental aspects of aging as well as developing tools to inform personal and public health choices.” The study was published online today in Genome Research. Aging is exhibited by organisms as diverse as yeast,...

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