Researchers from Northwestern University in the US have demonstrated in a study a strong correlation between the physical length of your DNA strands and how long you will live.
Shorter DNA strands are associated with a shorter lifespan, while longer strands indicate a longer life.
The length of a DNA strand is based on the number of nucleotides within it. Each string of nucleotides translates to an amino acid, forming a protein.
Very long strands yield a large protein, and short strands yield a small protein. A cell needs to have a balanced number of small and large proteins to achieve homeostasis, and problems occur when that balance gets out of whack.
Dr Thomas Stoeger, lead author of the study, said the simplicity of the relationship between DNA length and life expectancy was what convinced him to pursue the theory.
“I find it very elegant that a single, relatively concise principle seems to account for nearly all of the changes in the activity of genes that happen in animals as they age,” he said.
It’s hoped the discovery will lead to the development of new treatments and therapies to potentially counter the influence of DNA length on our lives.
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