Naked Mole Rat Genome Published

Sequencing of the genome of the long-lived naked mole rat was announced earlier this year, but here's more: "Scientists have sequenced the complete genome of the naked mole rat, a pivotal step to understanding the animal's extraordinarily long life and good health. A colony of more than 2,000 naked mole rats at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio contributed to the findings ... If we understand which genes are different or are expressed differently in naked mole rats - compared to short-lived mice that clearly have poor defenses against aging and cancer - we might find clues as to why the naked mole rat is able to extend both health span and longevity, as well as fight cancer, and this information could be directly relevant and translatable to humans. ... The mouse-sized naked mole rat is the longest-lived rodent known, surviving up to 31 years in captivity. This is much longer than its laboratory rodent relatives, and the naked mole rat maintains good health and reproductive potential well into its third decade. Naked mole rats live underground in large family groups, like termites and bees, with only a single breeding female. These social rodents are extremely tolerant of life in low oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide."

Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-10/uoth-big101211.php

Comments

Here is the URL for the full text article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature10533.html

One key excerpt -
"In contrast to other mammals, few genes showed differential expression between 4- and 20-year-old NMRs, especially in the brain"

Is the NMR epigenome more stable than that of most other mammals?

Posted by: Lou Pagnucco at October 13th, 2011 11:22 AM
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