February 5th, 2005
Understanding The Dauer State
Something a little more scientific from Nature for you today - a paper describing progress towards understanding dauer biochemistry. Nematode worms are known to enter the dauer state, "an enduring and non-ageing stage of the nematode life cycle with distinctive adaptive features and extended life." Cynthia Kenyon and other researchers have gained some fame through manipulation of the dauer state and related genes to greatly extend worm life span. Researchers have made good first steps here, and as these Korean scientists note, a complete understanding of duaer biochemistry "might in turn influence ageing and obesity research."