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. 1975 Nov;72(11):4664–4668. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.11.4664

Evolution of human longevity and the genetic complexity governing aging rate.

R G Cutler
PMCID: PMC388784  PMID: 812099

Abstract

Genetic complexity of processes governing the aging rate of man was estimated by determining the maximum rate lifespan has evolved along the hominid ancestral-descendant sequence. Maximum lifespan potential was found to have increased approximately 2-fold over the past 3 million years, reaching a maximum rate of increase of 14 years per 100,000 years about 100,000 years ago. It is estimated that about 0.6% of the total functional genes have received substitutions leading to one or more adaptive amino acid changes during this 100,000-year time-period. This suggests that aging is not the result of an expression of a large number of independently acting processes. Instead, primary aging processes appear to exist where only a few genetic changes are necessary to decrease uniformly the aging rate of many different physiological functions.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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