Aging, Bench to Bedside: A Collection in PLoS Genetics

: This collection focuses on a rapidly evolving field in which the study of both species-specific and ubiquitous aging mechanisms informs the biological process of aging. Yet the field is not without substantial controversy. Differing views arise as we come to understand aging across model systems — from bacteria to humans.
Image: modified from a photograph kindly provided by the Keane family, PLoS Biology 4[4]: e119.

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Editorials

An Age-Old Problem: "The advent of molecular biology and genetics has offered a unique opportunity to help us understand why organisms age, which in turn might offer clues as to how one might decelerate, stop, or even reverse this process." Reviews Editors Nicholas Katsanis and Susan Rosenberg introduce this interdisciplinary series.; Katsanis N, Rosenberg SM; doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030037
Entropy Explains Aging, Genetic Determinism Explains Longevity, and Undefined Terminology Explains Misunderstanding Both: In this closing editorial, Leonard Hayflick explains that "Communication in the field of biogerontology is a minefield." He highlights that the lack of universally accepted definitions "also produces erroneous interpretations of research results; illogical allocation of research funds; and misdirected scientific, economic, social, and political policy decisions."; Hayflick L; doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030220

The Role of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in Mammalian Aging: The authors examine the evidence supporting a causative role for mtDNA mutations in mammalian aging.; Kujoth GC, Bradshaw PC, Haroon S, Prolla TA; doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030024
Dietary Restriction in Drosophila: Delayed Aging or Experimental Artefact?: The authors review the recent literature on dietary restriction in Drosophila to point out some methodological issues that can obscure mechanistic interpretations.; Piper MDW, Partridge L; doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030057
Recent Developments in Yeast Aging: The authors briefly outline aging in yeast and describe recent findings that continue to keep this "simple" eukaryote at the forefront of aging research.; Kaeberlein M, Burtner CR, Kennedy BK; doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030084
Genetic Determinants of Human Health Span and Life Span: Progress and New Opportunities: The authors conclude that there are great opportunities for research on the genetics of human aging, particularly given the huge fund of information on human biology and pathobiology, and the rapidly developing knowledge of the human genome.; Martin GM, Bergman A, Barzilai N; doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030125
Genetics of Aging in Caenorhabditis elegans: A dissection of longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans reveals that animal life span is influenced by genes, environment, and stochastic factors.; Antebi A; doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030129

A Bacterial Kind of Aging: "One of the most exciting features of the discovery of a mandatory aging phenomenon in bacteria and eukaryotes dividing by binary fission is that, by virtue of being exquisitely tractable systems for genetic and biochemical analysis, there is a good chance of identifying the true aging agents in these systems."; Nyström T; doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0030224