Caltech Researchers Find Longevity-Linked Mutation

CBNobi writes "A study headed by researchers at CalTech have found a genetic mutation occuring in mitochondrial DNA that may signify longevity. The researchers found that the particular mutation occurred in 17% of centenarians, but only 3.7% of younger individuals. They also found the mutations in identical twins, which is a possible sign of inheritance. Researchers believe the mutation controls factors in DNA replication. The report information is available in a press release by CalTech, and the research abstract is also available."

Comments

For those that have a weak vocab like myself...

[AKA da JET]

centenarian ( P ) Pronunciation Key (snt-nâr-n)n.
One who is 100 years old or older.

Mitochondria inheritance

[PD]

The hypothesis that this is inherited could mean that you'd look to your mother's lineage for that feature, since mitochondria are inherited exclusively from your mother.

Cool. My maternal great grandma lived to 104 years old. Have to wait to see how my grandma and my mother fare, but this could be good for me.