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Naked mole rats defy the biological law of aging
In the world of animal models, naked mole rats are the supermodels. They rarely get cancer, are resistant to some types of pain, and can survive up to 18 minutes without oxygen. But perhaps their greatest feat, a new paper suggests, is that they don't age.
The first study to analyze the life histories of thousands of naked mole rats has found that their risk of death doesn't go up as they grow older, as it does for every other known mammalian species. Although some scientists caution against any sweeping conclusions, many say the new data are important and striking.
"This is remarkably low mortality," says Caleb Finch, a biogerontologist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles who was not involved in the new study. "At advanced ages, their mortality rate remains lower than any other mammal that has been documented."
Scientists have long noted that naked mole rats—burrowing rodents with wrinkled, pink skin and large protruding teeth that live in large, subterranean colonies—show few signs of aging and far surpass the life span expected of a rodent this size. Mice in captivity live at most 4 years; based on their size, naked mole rats would not be expected to live past 6 years. Instead, some live beyond 30 years, and even at that age breeding females stay fertile.
The scientists behind the research work at Calico, Google's biotechnology and anti-aging subsidiary.
Naked mole-rat mortality rates defy Gompertzian laws by not increasing with age (open, DOI: 10.7554/eLife.31157.001) (DX)
Related: Silicon Valley's Quest to Extend Life 'Well Beyond 120'
Google is Super Secretive About its Anti-Aging Research
(Score: 4, Touché) by Grishnakh on Wednesday January 31 2018, @02:06AM (8 children)
Do you also complain about the comedians at SNL "wasting their lives"? Or about funny talk show hosts? Or anyone in the entertainment business?
This guy is seriously an asset to SN. What have you been doing to contribute in the last year, besides posting AC?
(Score: 4, Funny) by khallow on Wednesday January 31 2018, @06:46AM (7 children)
They're getting paid. We're getting this for free. It's like Christmas every time he posts.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 31 2018, @04:38PM (3 children)
Every one of his posts feels like getting a lump of coal in my stocking.
(Score: 3, Funny) by tibman on Wednesday January 31 2018, @06:10PM
Free coal! Where do i sign up?
SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
(Score: 2, Touché) by khallow on Wednesday January 31 2018, @07:37PM (1 child)
(Score: 2) by chromas on Thursday February 01 2018, @03:24AM
I clean my coal with Tide Pods.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Wednesday January 31 2018, @05:53PM (2 children)
I agree, however I must point out that many people who watch SNL also see that for free, since in any reasonably-populated part of the US you can receive NBC with just an antenna. The performers are getting paid, but the viewers aren't paying for it, the advertisers are. So really, this guy should be getting some advertising dollars or something for his posts here on SN.
Of course, with comedians at a show/club, the viewers have to pay directly to attend.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday January 31 2018, @08:31PM (1 child)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @03:26PM
Well over here in SN we pay by having to read through lame/subpar AC replies.