Longevity Influenced by Neurotransmitter Gene Variation

Investigators at North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC, USA) reported in a paper published July 27, 2003, in the online edition of Nature Genetics that three natural variants in the DDC gene accounted for 15% percent of the genetic contribution to variation in life span among strains of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

"This is a surprisingly large effect for a gene affecting a complex trait, such as longevity or body size, which is typically controlled by many genes with relatively small effects,” said senior author Dr. Trudy Mackay, professor of genetics at North Carolina State University.

"Our results have real implications for humans,” said Dr. Mackay. "The DDC gene is a strong candidate for regulation of longevity in humans. The various genome projects active today have revealed an astounding similarity in the genetic makeup of organisms as disparate as yeast, Drosophila, and humans. For instance, over two-thirds of the known human disease genes have corresponding genes in Drosophila, and genes affecting key biological processes seem to be conserved across all animals.”





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