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Scientists have succeeded in reversing two of the most common and visible effects of aging by "deactivating" a specific gene, in a new study on laboratory mice.
Scientists were able to reverse two of the most common and visible effects of aging by "extinguishing" a specific gene, in a new study on laboratory mice.
Science continues to work on ways to help people realize their dreams of staying young forever, or at least looking that way. A new genetic experiment conducted at the University of Alabama in Birmingham is promising to reverse two of the most common and visible effects of aging. In fact, according to the scientific research paper published Friday in the newspaper, Cell Death & Disease the researchers were able to go back in time on aged, wrinkled and bald mice when they proceeded to do so. inversion of age. experience.
When the experiment was done, mice that had previously suffered from severely wrinkled skin and thinning and thinning hair seemed identical to their younger counterparts with smooth skin and hair growth, according to a summary from the experience. ] Science Daily .
"To our knowledge, this observation is unprecedented," said Keshav Singh, senior researcher on the study and professor of genetics at the University of Alabama at the Birmingham School of Medicine , cited by Science Daily .
So what did Singh and his team of genetic researchers do to produce this seemingly unbelievable result? They simply "turned off" a gene in mice that caused dysfunction of cellular mitochondria. When the dysfunction was reversed, the symptoms of aging were reversed, according to a summary of the UAB
Mitochondria are specialized structures known as organelles that live in every cell and provide a much of the energy used by each human cell. body, or the body of any animal or plant, according to Live Science . In fact, it is thought that the many mitochondria that live in each cell provide up to 90% of the energy used by the cell. After causing mitochondrial dysfunction in mice, UAB researchers observed in mice severe aging symptoms, particularly skin wrinkles and hair loss, within a few weeks. By restoring the function of damaged mouse mitochondria in the UAB experiment, the effects of aging were cleared and the mice regained their juvenile appearance.
"This mouse model should provide an unprecedented opportunity for the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies.To increase mitochondrial functions for the treatment of cutaneous and capillary pathology associated with aging and other human diseases in which the Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role, "said Singh, quoted by News India
. the experiment could, in the long run, lead to new drugs and other therapies that would restore a youthful appearance in aging humans, as well as in laboratory mice.
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