Scientists may need to rethink the genes that control aging, according to a new study
At first, the results were hard to believe. \”Although many of these genes have been associated with aging, our results showed that their activity was more of a function of bacteria than aging,\” said Shukla.
This included genes that regulate stress and immunity. Researchers tested whether antibiotics affected these genes when they starved some flies and infected others with harmful bacteria. They found no obvious trend. The antibiotics were found to help flies survive longer when they were starved or infected, but at other times the drugs had little or no effect.
Scientists at the NIH have discovered that bacteria could be driving many of the genes associated with aging in flies.
Source:
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/study-suggests-scientists-may-need-rethink-which-genes-control-aging
